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The Rights Stuff Newsletter
March, 1996
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Annual Meeting
Annual Meeting ­ BE THERE!
The Shadow of Hate to
be Screened The one and only business meeting per year for our entire membership is
set for Sunday, March 24 at 1:30pm at the Sandpoint Community Center.
MLK Day Activities
Recap
At this meeting, we will take care of necessary items like electing new
board members and approving a financial report. Sounds rather dry,
doesn't it?
Kudos to Coalition
First­Rate Group Gets
3rd­Rate Post
INAB ­ A Working
Network
Special Patriot Report
Music Fest to Celebrate
Human Rights
Fortunately, this meeting promises to be just like our other annual
meetings: short, succinct and successful. And we have lined up a program
following the meeting which you won't want to miss (look at the column to
the right.)
Please do your best to be present ­ it's our one chance to get to know each
other.
The annual meeting may be attended by any member and his/her guest. If
you are a member and will not be able to attend, please give a proxy
statement to someone you know will be there. This will ensure a quorum
present to conduct business.
"Underneath We're All the
Same"
Following the annual meeting (at 2:00pm), we will enjoy a covered dish
luncheon. Beverages, plates and utensils will be provided: you are asked to
We're On the Walls
bring any hot or cold main/side/dessert dish.
What is Malicious
Harassment?
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The Shadow of Hate to be Screened
On Sunday, March 21 at 2:30 pm in the Sandpoint Community Hall, the
Task Force membership and public are invited to see a screening of The
Shadow of Hate. This film is a history of intolerance in America, produced
in 1995 by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Mary Daley will present the film. Mary is the director of the Idaho Network
Against Bigotry, a statewide network within the Northwest Coalition Against
Malicious Harassment. Mary has a long history in human rights work,
having worked at the Idaho Migrant Council and worked twelved years at
the Idaho Human RIghts Commission.
The Shadow of Hate was made by academy­award winning filmmaker
Charles Guggenheim. In it he illuminates the dark corners of our nation's
past through actual historical footage, evocative still photographs and the
voices of individuals closest to the events depicted. It chronicles the
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haunting legacy of intolerance toward Native Americans, African
Americans, religious minorities, European and Asian immigrants, and
others. The 40­minute film shows firsthand the struggles that have shaped
our collective identity.
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MLK Day Activities Recap
Thanks to all who helped to observe Idaho Human Rights Day/Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day in Sandpoint. Thanks to Nancy Renk and the
Community Activities committee for their work. The film Mississippi Burning
proved to be still fresh in its impact. If you missed it, you might want to rent
it sometime.
Congratulations to Marcy Peterson, who hosted the observance at Connies
Conference Center. Over 75 people came and enjoyed the music, food,
presentation by Dr. Arthur Hart, and shared thoughts.
And thanks go to all the people who helped to make our videotape: Nicole
Baran, Cinde Borup, David Crettol, Kathleen Eldred, Brenda Hammond,
Max Harrell, Ashley Howell, Debra Heise, Bobbie Huguenin, Steve Klatt,
Colleen MacGregor, James Murray, Donna Parrish, Beth Pederson,
Marilyn Sabella, Rusty Sabella, David Sawyer, Jim Semick, Chuck Smith,
Steve Van Horn and the human rights clubs at Sandpoint High and
Sandpoint Middle School.
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Kudos to Coalition
The Sandpoint Human Rights Coalition is a group of citizens and groups
(including the Task Force) concerned with North Idaho's image given in the
national media. They deserve a special thanks for all their recent work:
when another media assault loomed, they decided to take a "pro­active"
stand, with posters, buttons, radio, newspaper, and television visibility.
Special thanks go to Chris Bessler, Michael Boge, Jonathon Coe, Debbie
Ferguson, Brenda Hammond, Keokee Publishing, Kevin Watson, and
many more. PFLAG forms
A local chapter of PFLAG ­ Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays ­ is
being formed. For more information call 263­9188.
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First­Rate Group Gets 3rd­Rate Post
If you look at the address area of this newsletter you'll see that we are now
using our new bulk mail permit. With the size of our mailing list, bulk mail
just makes economic sense. So please, when you sift through your daily
mail, check the return address before you chuck ­ or recycle ­ the junk.
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INAB ­ A Working Network
In an earlier article, you read about Mary Daley, director of the Idaho
Network Against Bigotry. This is a network of human rights groups and
advocates all over the state of Idaho. A recent conference call included
people from: Boise, Pocatello, Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene, Bonners Ferry,
Twin Falls, Moscow, Lewiston, as well as Bill Wassmuth from the
Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment.check on these
In addition to encouraging communication between all of the groups, the
network provides assistance to startup and existing human rights
organizations in the form of education and advice. For example, Mary was
present for our board's all­day retreat last August.
INAB has scheduled regional workshops this spring. The one for our region
is in Moscow on April 26 and 27 (Friday evening and Saturday). Included in
the workshop will be the viewing and discussion of The Color of Fear, and
discussion on how to organize and strengthen local task forces.
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Special Patriot Report
In April, Klanwatch will issue False Prophets, a 64­page special report
based on information collected by its Militia Task Force. The report will
detail the antigovernment Patriot movement ­ who they are, what they
believe, how they operate, and the threat they present. Anyone wishing to
receive a copy may fax a request to 334­264­8891.
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Music Fest to Celebrate Human Rights
The ninth annual Bonner County Music Festival is of special interest to us
this year: its theme is "Celebrate America with Sounds of Unity." It is
scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 7:00pm at the Sandpoint High School
gymnasium.
The Music Festical is a large and impressive production involving many
hours of rehearsal and preparation with students and faculty from Clark
Fork High, Priest River Lamanna High, and Sandpoint High Schools.
Approximately 200 singers, 150 instrumentalists and eight music faculty
and accompanists will combine efforts to produce the festive performance.
Musical selections will range from the Baroque to the Beatles, and from
Sousa to Beethoven.
The Music Faculty should be commended for their efforts. As they put it:
"This is the kind of event which serves as an example of what is right with
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our schools and students ­ come show your support and encouragement
by attending this worthwhile and enjoyable event."
Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for students, with children under 6 admitted
free of charge.
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"Underneath We're All the Same"
He prayed ­ it wasn't my religion.
He ate ­ it wasn't what I ate.
He spoke ­ it wasn't my language.
He dressed ­ it wasn't what I wore.
He took my hand ­ it wasn't the color of mine.
But when he laughed ­ it was how I laughed,
and when he cried ­ it was how I cried.
by Amy Maddox, 16
Bargersville, Indiana
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We're On the Walls
Your Neighbor Support Committee has been busy getting the word out.
They have designed and printed posters offering help to anyone who feels
they have been the object of malicious harassment.
The posters are printed in English and Spanish and are laminated. They
are now in place in 25 locations around Sandpoint, and soon will be seen in
the Clark Fork/Hope and Priest River areas.
Many thanks go to Margaret Simpson and also to Mountain Sky Graphics
for their help in this project.
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What is Malicious Harassment?
Idaho was one of the first states to enact a law makeing malicious
harassment a crime. It is important for all of us to understand just what
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constitutes malicious harassment in Idaho. Here is the actual code: Section
18­7902. Malicious Harassment defined ­ Prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person, maliciously and with the specific intent
to intimidate or harass another person because of that person's race, color,
religion, ancestry, or national origin, to:
(a) Cause physical injury to another person; or
(b) Damage, destroy, or deface any real or personal property of another
person; or
(c) Threaten, by word or act, to do the acts prohibited if there is reasonable
cause to believe that any of the acts described in subsections (a) and (b) of
this section will occur.
For purposes of this section, "deface" shall include, but not be limited to,
cross burnings or the placing of any word or symbol commonly sassociated
with racial, religious or ethnic terrorism on the property of another person
without his or her permission.
"Swear never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings
enduresuffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality
helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor,
never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are
endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and
sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted
because of their tace, religion, or political views, that place must ­­ at that
moment ­­ become the center of the universe."
­ Elie Wiesel
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The Rights Stuff is published "occasionally" by the Bonner County Human
Rights Task Force. Helping with this issue were: Jane Clark, Brenda
Hammond, Jeanette Lucas, Lela Lucht, Tammy Moikeha, Donna Parrish.
The Task Force can be reached at 208­263­0275 and e­mail:
bchrtf@dmi.net
"We have torn down the [racial] barriers in our laws. Now we
must break down the barriers in our lives, our minds, and our
hearts."
­­ Bill Clinton, in his speech beginning a "year long initiative"
to determine how best to deal with historic racial rifts in our
society.
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