Latest Update on AFT Convention in Minneapolis

WASHINGTON—The American Federation of Teachers’ biennial convention July 18-21 in Minneapolis will feature remarks from AFT President Randi Weingarten, Hillary Clinton, Minnesota’s top lawmakers, Sybrina Fulton (Trayvon Martin’s mother) and many others to discuss the vital issues facing the AFT’s 1.6 million members and the people they serve.

The convention will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Members of the media who want to attend any of the convention sessions must register here.

** To pick up your entry badge, bring a photo ID and your press credential to the AFT’s press office in Exhibit Hall D in the convention center. Especially on Monday, give yourself plenty of time to do this.**

All general sessions with featured speakers will be live-streamed at: www.aft.org/convention/live.

Convention speakers and other highlights:

Sunday, July 17 (pre-convention event)

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

•  “AFT Gives Back” community fair—Urban Ventures, 2841 Fifth Ave. South, Minneapolis

Monday, July 18

9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

• AFT President Randi Weingarten—keynote address

4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

• Greetings: U.S. Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
• Hillary Clinton (to begin approximately 5 p.m.)

Tuesday, July 19

9:30 a.m. – noon

• “Disarm Hate” with U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.); Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change; and Kimberly Colbert, teacher at St. Paul’s Central High School, where Philando Castile (slain by police July 6) graduated.  

12:30 p.m.

• AFT Human Rights Luncheon—Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, accepts Bayard Rustin Human Rights Award

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Greetings: Gov. Mark Dayton
• United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard—announcing a public-private partnership with the AFT in Massena, N.Y., to revive the community
• Stav Shaffir, youngest member of Israel’s Knesset      

Wednesday, July 20

10 a.m. – noon

• AFT’s 100th anniversary celebration—a nod to the accomplishments of the last century and how they will inspire the union’s future

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

• Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and others on collective voice

Thursday, July 21

8:30 a.m. – until end

• U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee
• Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers