MLK Madison Events January 16 and 19, 2026

“The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.”  – Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. worked with the labor union movement and advocated for fair pay and better conditions as fundamental rights. He believed in the shared destiny of all workers, connecting economic struggles with broader civil rights.  And he argued that labor struggles were moral struggles for a truly just society.

These days are trying times for our country.  Labor rights, workers rights, voting rights, and civil rights have been and continue to be under attack. This MLK weekend, we honor our civil rights leaders, our union organizers, and our community activists.

We encourage you to attend the MLK Community Dinner and other events, from those who support our food pantries in Dodge and Dane Counties to the MLK Observance Day itself.  

And in the spirit of MLK, we ask that you spread the word about the upcoming Rights-based workshop: Protecting Immigrants at Work training.  

Let’s be that principal force to transform the misery and despair into hope and progress.

In Solidarity,  

Kevin Gundlach, President
South Central Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO