Constitution Day Event

Whose Constitution, Whose Rights? Examining the rights of immigrants, the accused, and voters in 2021

Join Massachusetts Community Colleges to celebrate Constitution Day through a series of panels featuring speakers from across the Commonwealth.  The whole day is an exploration of our rights under the Constitution, rights that are guaranteed in theory and endangered in practice. Specifically, we will be exploring the rights of immigrants, the rights of the criminally accused, and the right to vote in the face of voter suppression.

10:00-11:20 What Are the Constitutional and Human Rights of Unauthorized and Authorized Immigrants in the Past and Present Administrations?
– Raúl Gutiérrez, Director of Latinx Studies, Holyoke Community College
– Cindy Salazar, attorney for immigrant rights
– Jessica Chicco, Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition
– Moderated by: Miren Neyra Alcantara, Holyoke Community College

11:30-1:00 What are the Effects of the Massachusetts Police Reform Bill on Officers and Citizens?
– Deputy Chief of Police Sean Riley, Framingham MA
– Representative from ACLU Massachusetts
– Moderated by: Heidi Getchell-Bastien, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Government, Mass Bay Community College

1:30-3:00 What’s the History of Voting Rights and Voter Suppression, What’s Going on Now and What Can We Do About It?
– Representatives from voting rights advocacy organizations
– Moderated by: Professor Stephen Slaner, Northern Essex Community College

Please register here for all or part of the day!