HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-09-13 Human Relations Advisory Committee MinutesHuman Relations Advisory Committee
Minutes for meeting on 9-13-2001
u
CLERK
Location: Reading Police Station - Community Room 7:30 PM u. MASS.
Present: Robin D'Antona, School Committee designee; Terry Jones; PAA 1 11�pPlii1 8: 59
Maher, Board of Selectmen designee; Carol Roberts, Town of Reading personnel;
Margaret Soli, Edward Toland, Bob Silva, Chief of Police.
1. Minutes of previous meeting corrected and approved.
2. 19 page handout from the Reading Adult Soccer Team reviewed as to possible
discrimination in scheduling field use on Sundays. All groups appear to be treated
equally no issues found for the committee to recommend on.
3. Discussion on mailed out item (see attached) on " Hate -Free communities" program.
Phil Maher opposed to participation in the program. Committee in general open to
participation. Proposal made to look into it further no action taken at this time.
4. Terry Jones initiated proposal to make a statement from the committee to publish a
statement on fair treatment towards Middle East persons and Arabs in this country after
the Sep 11 Terrorist attacks. Robin D'Antona authored the following statement
approved 7 to 0 by the committee:
The Human Relations Advisory Committee promotes tolerance at all levels and in
particular during these emotional and trying times. Furthermore, we wish to remind us
of our basic values of understanding and cooperation which bring us together and make
this nation great.
5. Chairperson Margaret Soli asked Phil Maher to begin scheduling of clergy
interviews.
6. Bob Silva gave two hand outs to all committee members for their information and
review. One a pamphlet on "Responding to Hate Crimes" and a page on racial profiling.
7. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM. Next meeting scheduled for Oct, 11, 2001
Minutes submitted by Phil Maher standing in for Emily Maughan, secretary who was
absent.
C
ADL honors 16 Mass. communities
^
wing a May 30 ce r -
LJ mony In Boston, the
New England Regional office
of the Anti -Defamation
League certNed 16 Massa-
chusetts elides and towns as
the first No Place for Hate
communities.
The designation was be-
stowed upon cemmunities
that made a commitment to
building understanding and
respect for diversity while
engaging residents in at
least three new programs
created to facilitate inter-
group dialogue and inhibit
tensions and hate crimes.
Communities honored
were: Cohasset. Duxbury,
Franklin. Hull, Lexington.
Melrose, Monson. Natick.
Needham. New Bedford.
Newburyport, Northampton.
Peabody, Sharon. Somerville
and Swampscott.
Municipal representatives
were awarded a sign for the
entrance to their commu-
nity. staring, " rhis is a No
Place for Hate community in
the year 2001'
By taking part in this
program. communities are
setting a standard for how
to go about establishing re-
spectful communities that
are dedicated to democratic
Values.' said New England
ADL Executive Director
Robert Letkind.
The 16 certified cities and
towns are among the 53
Massachusetts communities
currently participating in
the statewide campaign. Fol-
lowing the first full year of
the No Place for Hate cam-
paign, there is a waiting list
for communities interested
in Joking the program.
The New England office of
the Anti -Defamation League
created No Place for Hale in
Partnership with the MMA
to empower Massachusetts
communities to proactively,
recognize Issues of diversity.
to engage residents in budd-
ing Inter -group understand -
CNruwndy leaders from die town of NeNharn display the syn
uuwrded to them of a May 30 rPmmany honor hg Nein as one of
the first 16 rrwnuipalilles to be oernfied as No Pbce for Hare through
the ADV. smrr qr a onmpolgn
Ing and respect, and to pre-
vent acts of bigotry, hate
crimes and civil rights viola -
dons.
The Massachusetts cam-
paign is a groundbreaking
model that is now being
replicated by ADL offices
nationally in cooperation
with local coalitions.
In completing the mini.
mum criteria required In
order to be certified as a No
Place for Hate community,
tach municipality worked
with ADL to create a
unique, local campaign.
The following are among
the local programs:
• CohasseC Community
workshop: How W Re-
spond to a Hate Crime
• Hull: Take a Stand in the
Sand (1,000 residents
joined together to form
the phrase 'Hull is No
Place for Hate- on the
beach)
• Lexington: Diversity train -
Ing for town employees
• Monson: Panel on gay,
lesbian. bisexual and
transgender issues
• Peabody: Armenian geno-
cide and holocaust memo-
rial ceremonies
• Swampscott: Middle
school No Place for Hate
essay contest
The 16 communities have
been certified as No Place
for Hate for a one-year pe.
riod and will have to oppor-
tunity to apply for re -certifi-
cation each year.
The Massachusetts pm -
gam Is supported by pro -
gam underwriter the
Maxwell V. Blum Family,
corporate sponsor Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Massa-
chusetts, and corporate
supporter Shaws Supermar-
kets. Additional support
comes from a coalition of
more than 50 community-
based groups and organim-
tions. including: the Gover-
nor's
over-
nors Task Force on Hate
Crimes, the Massachusetts
Police Association, the
Massachusetts Council of
Churches, and the Urban
League of Eastern Massa-
chusetts.
For more information about
the program call MMA Com-
munwatrons and Membership
Director Pot Mikes or Jen-
nifer Smith at the New Eng-
land And-Defanntlon leagrre
M (617) 457.6600.
For more tnfomwdon about
the cemfied communities.
see the MMA Web site
(www.mmaorg/.
TheB"aron Summar 2001 Page 5