On Friday, September 8, 2006, a ribbon cutting ceremony ushered in a much needed Human Rights office in our community, located within the State School for the Deaf. The celebration was very uplifting, and various members of the community were shown appreciation for their hard work over the years that paved the way for state legislators to budget a satellite office in Vancouver. Earl Ford, president of the local chapter of the NAACP, offered thanks to those who spearheaded the Human Rights campaign in 2001, and offered a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr, “A truth pressed to the earth will continue to rise.” Some attendees spoke of discrimination that occurs regularly in the community, including the public schools and the workplace.
The RNA has long been active in the process to establish a local Human Rights office, and members of the State Commission explained that testimony received from the RNA helped build legislative approval for the project. The RNA submitted personal testimony, demographic information and research materials that helped outline various incidents of discrimination throughout the community, all of which pointed to the need for public education, outreach, and enforcement of the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
State Representative Craig Pridemore offered a heartfelt speech on the need for the Human Rights office. He explained that a few years ago, the County Commissioners heard some devastating news prior to their regular morning County Commissioners meeting. In spite of this news, the regular meeting had to go on as scheduled. During this very difficult time, a member of the public addressed the Commissioners and railed against the proposal to establish a local Human Rights Commission in Vancouver and Clark County, a proposal that was adopted through an interlocal agreement between the City and the County in a show of cooperative support. Representative Pridemore explained that the heated comments from this one member of the public were terribly out of place, given the fact that the whole world had just learned that morning of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. That was 2001. Five years later, Representative Pridemore explained that the insensitivity of this complaining individual at a crucial time in our nation’s history pointed directly to dramatic need for Human Rights representation in our community, and he thanked many of the Human Rights volunteers in attendance who helped bring the local office into fruition.
The 2001 Campaign for Human Rights was overturned by voter referendum, wherein those in opposition falsely claimed that the establishment of a local Human Rights office was merely an attempt to authorize “thought police” that would then enforce restrictions on public opinion and expression of personal beliefs. Discrimination, is against the law. The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, creed/religion, familial status, marital status, national origin, race/color, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, HIV and Hepatitis C status, and whistleblower retaliation. The Mission of the Washington State Human Rights Commission is “to eliminate and prevent discrimination through the fair application of the law, the efficient use of resources, and the establishment of partnerships within the community.” The State Commission investigates and uses alternate dispute resolution in regards to complaints of discrimination in the areas of Employment, Housing, Public Accommodation, Credit and Insurance. State Laws that outline the operation of the Commission and the investigative process are identified in RCW 49.60.
Representatives Pridemore and Fromhold cut the green ribbon that adorned the doorway to the office, where attendees explained it is vitally important to be able to talk with an investigator face to face when dealing with sensitive complaints. Governor Christine Gregoire sent a letter of congratulations that was read aloud and presented to the State Human Rights Commissioners. Representative Fromhold commended Representative Moeller, who could not be in attendance due to campaign scheduling, for his legislative work to achieve the local office. The principal of the State School for the Deaf and members of the school’s Executive Board warmly welcomed the office and the community members, and pledged support for local Human Rights work. Representatives of the homeless and disabled community offered their support and expertise as working partners. Discrimination against disabled persons in the workplace was noted as being the leading source of complaints. During the meeting, a community member arrived to privately lodge a Human Rights complaint and request assistance, and the administrator acted immediately and informed those gathered that the work had already begun.
A representative from Bremerton was in attendance in hopes of establishing a similar satellite office in her location, and it was announced that the Vancouver satellite office has become the model that can be duplicated throughout the state. Various cities have voiced an interest in having their own local Human Rights office.
The Vancouver office is now operating with office hours from 8:30AM to 5:00PM, every Wednesday. The Vancouver investigator, Mai Kim Ly, receives phonecalls regularly, or she can be reached via email: mly@hum.wa.gov. Ms. Ly’s phone numbers are: Olympia Office: 1.800.233.3247, and Vancouver Office: 360.418.4290 . The local office is located at the Washington School for the Deaf, 611 Grand Blvd., Room 108 A.
If you believe that you have been discriminated against, call Ms. Ly so that she can review your case and determine whether a complaint can be filed and investigated. The State Human Rights Commission is a neutral party in the investigative process. If an investigation concludes that discrimination has occurred, the state will attempt for the parties concerned to reach an acceptable agreement. If no agreement is reached, then the complaint can be heard before an Administrative Law Judge during a formal public hearing.
