ADVISORY: Civil and Human Rights Coalition Hosts ‘Bend Toward Justice’ Conference

Media 11.29,18

WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights will host its “Bend Toward Justice” conference on Tuesday, December 4 in Washington, DC. Attendees will hear from a wide range of speakers on pressing civil and human rights issues of the day.

Each year, The Leadership Conference brings together its member organizations for an annual membership meeting. This year, we are expanding that meeting to an all-day conference that will feature dynamic and exciting programming and speakers. This conference and meeting will bring together more than 500 civil and human rights advocates from across the nation.

Media are requested to register for the conference by visiting this link: https://r1.events-registration.com/LeadershipConference/member.cfm and selecting “Press” as their attendee type.

The currently planned schedule of open press events is listed below. All times are eastern:

9:15 – 9:20 AM:        Welcome from Judith Lichtman, chair, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

9:20 – 9:30 AM:        Opening Remarks by Vanita Gupta, president and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

9:30 – 10:00 AM:      Congresswoman-elect Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) in conversation with Jamal Simmons, host, Hill TV

10:05 – 10:50 AM:     Panel discussion with: Rebecca Cokley, director, Disability Justice Initiative, Center for American Progress; Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO, National
Women’s Law Center; Keith M. Harper, U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative, retired, to the United Nations Human Rights Council, and Native
American rights lawyer; Mara Keisling, executive director, National Center for Transgender Equality; Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director, Religious Action Center
of Reform Judaism

10:55 – 11:20 AM:    Desmond Meade, president, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, in conversation with Judith Browne Dianis, executive director, Advancement Project

11:25 – 11:45 AM:     Remarks by Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

12:00 – 1:00 PM:       Lunch featuring former Tallahassee Mayor and Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum in conversation with Tiffany Cross, co-founder, The Beat

3:15 – 4:00 PM:         Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) in conversation with Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor, Slate

4:05 – 4:20 PM:         Presentation by Cristóbal Alex, president, Latino Victory Project

4:20 – 4:30PM:          Presentation by Brittany Packnett, vice president, national community alliances, Teach For America

4:35 – 4:55 PM:         Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) in conversation with Dara Lind, senior reporter, Vox

4:55 – 5:00 PM:         Closing remarks by Ashley Allison, executive vice president, campaigns and programs, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Note: Riser space is limited. Reporters seeking space on the riser should contact Kristen Voorhees at [email protected].

WHAT:           The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights “Bend Toward Justice” conference

WHO:

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii)
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)
Congresswoman-elect Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.)
Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum
Cristóbal Alex, president, Latino Victory Project
Ashley Allison, executive vice president, campaigns and programs, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Rebecca Cokley, director, Disability Justice Initiative, Center for American Progress
Tiffany Cross, co-founder, The Beat DC
Judith Browne Dianis, executive director, Advancement Project
Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO, National Women’s Law Center
Keith Harper, U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative, retired, to the United Nations Human Rights Council, and Native American rights lawyer
Mara Keisling, executive director, National Center for Transgender Equality
Judith Lichtman, chair, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Dara Lind, senior reporter, Vox
Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor, Slate
Desmond Meade, president, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
Brittany Packnett, vice president, national community alliances, Teach For America
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Jamal Simmons, host, Hill TV

WHEN:           Tuesday, December 4, 2018; 9:15 AM to 5:00 PM ET

WHERE:         Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

HOW:              Media are requested to register for the conference by visiting this link: https://r1.events-registration.com/LeadershipConference/member.cfm and selecting “Press” as their
attendee type.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.