Join the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR) as it celebrates its 75th anniversary with a panel discussion on State Human Rights Laws As Laboratories of Democracy.
 

This discussion will be led by Division of Human Rights (DHR) Interim Commissioner Johnathan J. Smith and will feature:

• Carl McCall, SUNY Chairman Emeritus, former NYS Comptroller, and former DHR Commissioner
• Gina Lopez Summa, NYS Court of Claims Judge, former DHR General Counsel
• Margarita Rosa, former DHR General Counsel and Commissioner
• Caroline Downey, DHR General Counsel
• Carmelyn Malalis, Chair and Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights
• Rachel Wainer Apter, Director of the NJ Division on Civil Rights
• Rebecca Lucero, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights

This first part of the event will focus on the history and legacy of the New York State Human Rights Law, and DHR’s role. The second part of the program will provide a comparative analysis of different jurisdictions and protections pertaining to discrimination under the law and explore how state and local human rights laws have served to advance the causes of justice and equality.