Davenport Civil Rights Commission Events

02/03/2026

Welcome to Black History Month! Throughout February, we will honor the incredible achievements, struggles, and contributions of Black individuals and communities. Together, let's reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and build a future rooted in justice and equality.

Photo Description: Photo of Claude McKay on the right side, in a suit in black and white. Text on the left side, a poem by McKay: If we must die, let it not be like hogs
Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,
While round us bark the mad and hungry
dogs,
Making their mock at our accursed lot.
If we must die, O let us nobly die,
So that our precious blood may not be shed
In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall
be constrained to honor us though dead! O
kinsmen! we must meet the common foe!
Though far outnumbered let us show us
brave,
And for their thousand blows deal one death-
blow!
What though before us lies the open grave?
Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly
pack,
Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

01/27/2026

Today, we remember.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the memory of the six million Jewish men, women, and children, and the countless others who were persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust. We reflect on the atrocities of the past, the lives lost, and the resilience of survivors.

This day reminds us of the importance of standing against hatred, discrimination, and antisemitism. As a community and as a nation, we commit to educating future generations so that such horrors are never repeated.

Let us remember, reflect, and reaffirm our shared responsibility to promote human dignity, justice, and inclusivity.

11/06/2025

ABA's Protest and Power: Tracing America’s Legacy of Resistance
🗓️ November 6, 2025 at 11 AM CST

Questions around free expression are growing as frequent street protests lead to increased pushback against demonstrators and even bystanders, participating in peaceful protest. This event explores what the First Amendment says about the right to protest peacefully, and how that right has evolved throughout America’s long history of resistance.

👉 Learn more or join the conversation here: https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/454711224/

Note: Sharing this event is for informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement of the views or perspectives of the presenters or organizers.

At a time when political division is giving rise to frequent street protests, it’s becoming commonplace for demonstrators (and even bystanders) to face pushback from law enforcement that can turn vio…

10/15/2025

Learn more about our history of racial injustice.

08/06/2025

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 10 Davenport Iowa announced its’ upcoming QC Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Career Expo. Please see attached flyer. The event will take place on Tuesday, August 19th at the LULAC Center located at 4224 Ricker Hill Road Davenport, Iowa from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. LULAC will be collaborating with the Tri City Building Trades Council. The purpose of the Expo is to provide information on the various skilled trades and the apprenticeship application process. Nine skilled trades unions will be represented at this event: Local 581 Glaziers, Local 1178 Painters and Finishers, Local 4 Carpenters, Local 111 Ironworkers, Local 81 Insulators, Local 25 Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 2158 Millwrights, Local 18 Cement Masons and Plasters, and Local 91 Sheetmetal Workers.

If you are interested in a career in skilled trades, please join them on the 19th.

Image Description: A flyer promoting the QC Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Career Expo. At the top, there is a photo of three smiling construction workers wearing yellow hard hats and reflective vests. One is holding a clipboard. Behind them is construction equipment.

Below the image, large red and blue text reads:
"QC Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Career Expo."

Participating Unions listed:

Local 581 Glaziers
Local 1178 Painters and Finishers
Local 4 Carpenters
Local 111 Ironworkers
Local 145 Electricians
Local 81 Insulators
Local 25 Plumbers and Pipefitters
Local 2158 Millwrights
Local 18 Cement Masons and Plasterers
Local 91 Sheet Metal Workers

At the bottom, two logos appear:
LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens), Council 10, Davenport, Iowa
America’s Building Trades Unions / Tri City Building Trades Council with the tagline: "Value on display. Every day."

04/11/2025

🏡 On This Day in History: The Fair Housing Act Was Signed Into Law 🏡

Today, we honor the legacy of the Fair Housing Act, signed into law on April 11, 1968, just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This landmark legislation was a vital step toward ending housing discrimination and ensuring that every person—regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, s*x, disability, or family status—has the right to choose where they live without fear of bias or exclusion.

📜 This law was born out of struggle, courage, and the fight for civil rights. It reminds us that equal access to housing is a human right, not a privilege.

At the Davenport Civil Rights Commission, we continue the work to uphold fair housing for all. Let today be a reminder that the pursuit of justice in housing is ongoing—and that together, we can build stronger, more inclusive communities.

04/08/2025

🌍✨ Happy Fair Housing Month! ✨🌍

As we honor Fair Housing Month, let's reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s impactful leadership during the Chicago Open Housing Movement (1965-1967). The movement, led by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, aimed to combat discrimination in housing, education, and job access in Chicago.

King and his supporters marched for mortgage equality, tenants' rights, and a fair chance for all to thrive in their communities. As King passionately said, "There is nothing more powerful than the tramp, tramp of marching feet. We will march on city hall to make demands of an open city."

Let's continue to carry his message of justice, equality, and opportunity for all. 🏡✊

🔗 To hear the powerful speech from the march, click the link below.

(10 Jul 1966) STORYChicago -Civil rights leaders address crowd in soldier field. nx 34891 (74ft, 2:04, shot 7-10-66) Martin Luther King sof "so int us all...

02/23/2025

Paul Robeson was an actor, singer, and civil rights activist whose career spanned multiple fields. Despite facing racism, Robeson used his platform to fight for Black rights and international solidarity. His rendition of ‘Ol’ Man River’ remains legendary.

Public Domain: Paul Robeson drawing by Charles Henry Alston, showing Robeson as an actor, artist and athlete.

02/22/2025

Fred Hampton, leader of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, was only 21 when he was assassinated by law enforcement in 1969. His activism for Black empowerment and his fight against police brutality continue to inspire movements today. For more information on this topic, please see: https://calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/dec/4

Alt Text: Photo of Fred Hampton speaking at a microphone wearing a dark jacket with an outstretched hand surrounded by people holding protest signs.

02/21/2025

Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a thriving African American community known for its economic success in the early 20th century. Sadly, it was destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, but its legacy as a symbol of Black economic power remains.

Alt Text: Image of Tulsa World newspaper, with headline "Dead Estimated at 100: City is Quiet", describing the attack as a "race war", "5000 Negro Refugees Guarded in Camp at County Fair Grounds".

Next image is a photo of the devastation and smoldering smoke stacks where buildings once stood.

02/20/2025

Nina Simone, the ‘High Priestess of Soul,’ used her music as a platform for activism, blending jazz, blues, and classical music to speak out against racial injustice. Songs like ‘Mississippi Goddam’ are powerful reflections of her struggle for equality.

Alt Text: Photo of Nina Simone, a Black woman, wearing a light colored dress, singing while seated and playing the piano.