MLK event features civil rights attorney

Jan. 13—WINDHAM — A civil rights attorney involved in a case about a Black man killed during a police shootout on Route 32 in Feb. 2019 will be the featured speaker during an event celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. on Saturday.

The virtual event, "Why We Can't Wait," is being put together by the Windham-Willimantic chapter of the NAACP in collaboration with the Calvary Baptist Church in Willimantic.

The free event is being held via Zoom at 2 p.m.

" Attorney ( Michael) Jefferson was chosen as our keynote speaker because he is knowledgeable about the history of Dr. King and how the lessons he taught during the Civil Rights movements can be reiterated in today's society," Windham-Willimantic NAACP chapter President Leah Ralls said in an e-mail.

Martin Luther King Day, which is on Monday, is a federal holiday celebrating the birthday of the civil rights leader. The virtual event is being held instead of the in-person service held on Martin Luther King Day at the Calvary Baptist Church in the past.

"Why We Can't Wait" is the theme of the event as well as the title of a 1964 book written by King about the peaceful movement against racial segregation in the United States.

" The topic is fitting because of the recent attacks on civil rights in a variety of arenas and because when civil rights are violated, it jeopardizes the safety of those violated," Ralls wrote.

Jefferson assisted the Windham-Willimantic chapter of the NAACP during the Kyron Sands' case. Sands led police on a car chase through Eastern Connecticut that ended on Route 32 near the Windham/Willimantic line, where he was shot and killed by police.

During that incident, Sands fired several shots at police and civilians in the cars, but no officers or civilians were injured. Jefferson, who lives and practices law in Connecticut, is currently involved with the case involving Randy Cox, a Black man who was paralyzed while being transported in custody by New Haven officers.

Five New Haven officers were arrested in connection with that case.

Jefferson is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with a masters degree in child welfare from St. Joseph College and law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

He is a member of the Connecticut and federal bars.

Jefferson has received numerous awards for his work in the community, including being selected by the NAACP five times as one of the 100 most influential blacks in the state.

State Sen. Martin Looney, who is the state Senate President Pro- Tempore, appointed Jefferson to the Connecticut Social Equity Council in June 2021.

The council was established to ensure that funds from the adult-use cannabis program are given to communities hit hardest by the "war on drugs."

To register for the event, visit windhamctnaacp.org/ mlk-celebration-2023/.

Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter — @mwarrentc.