Education Association leader to speak on human rights in Coeur d’Alene

The director of the nation’s largest labor union will speak at the annual Human Rights Banquet in Coeur d’Alene on April 22.

John Stocks has been executive director of the National Education Association since 2011. The former Coeur d’Alene resident served as a Democrat in the Idaho Senate from 1988 to 1990. Before that, he led a political action group, Idaho Fair Share, which focused on utility legislation and regulatory issues.

The NEA has 3.2 million members, over 500 employees and an annual budget of $370 million.

In his position there, Stocks has championed social justice and refers to supporters of human rights as social justice patriots. He will speak on institutional racism and human rights at the banquet, held by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

The banquet will be at the Best Western Coeur d’Alene Inn, 506 West Appleway Ave. A reception starts at 5 p.m. and dinner starts at 6 p.m. The cost is $40. For tickets, call (208) 765-3932 by April 20.