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Home My WebLink About2019-02-01-LHRC-min Town of Lexington, Human Rights Committee Meeting Friday, February 1, 2019 Lexington Community Center 8:37-9:30 Present Committee Members: Sean Osborne (Chair), Tanya Gisolfi (Vice Chair), Mona Roy (Clerk), James Barry (Police Department), Bonnie Brodner, Barbara Hamilton (LPS), Jeffrey Toronto Liaisons and Guests: Mabel Amar, Mark Corr (Police Department), Aidan Evelyn (Police Department), Patricia Jacotin (ABCL/SEPAC), Kathleen Lenihan (School Committee), Christina Lin (LHS PTO/PPC), Brent Maracle (LICA), Valerie Overton (LexPride), Tony Serio (Human Services), Deb Zucker (LexPride) Public Comments • Valerie Overton (LexPride) spoke on LexPride Events, commended Community Conversation on Race; and requested LHRC co-sponsorship of a Community Conversation on LGBTQ issues and asked for a review of the YRBS data to be placed on a future agenda • Deb Zucker (Lex Pride) commended Community Conversation on Race and asked LHRC to let LexPride know if they could be a helpful co-sponsor of any upcoming events • Christina Lin (PPC/LHS PTO) spoke on possible use of the SPOT application (used to report harassment anonymously) and requested discussion of SPOT be put on a future agenda. Also read aloud an email from Patricia Luzio, a Lexington resident, regarding the need for a more proactive approach to eradicating institutional racism. 1. Review Meeting Minutes • Correction on a minor typo and Bonnie Brodner asked that 7d be changed to "Valerie Overton (LexPride) noted Gay Pride March is 2nd Saturday in June, Lexington's celebration is always the day after and asked for coordination as both will fall on the same day." • Motion to approve Ms. Gisolfi, Motion to Second Det. Barry, approved 2. Chair Report • Conversation on Race—received a lot of positive feedback, the Lexington Minuteman's 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE•LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420 coverage quoting Ms. Hamilton and Ms. Roy was noted, and a debrief in February is planned. • Noted that the SPOT application— has to be run through Town, School, and Police before the LHRC can even consider a broader discussion. Then, discussion on the limited role/powers of LHRC was mentioned. 3. Request to Co-Sponsor LexPride Candidates Forum • Mr. Osborne had requested that the BOS weigh in on this request. The BOS deemed that co-sponsoring any of the candidates' forums would be inappropriate and could be seen as political participation by an appointed committee. (see attached email from Jill Hai). • LexPride's request to co-sponsor their upcoming candidates' forum was not discussed by the committee. • Ms. Brodner agreed with the letter from Ms. Hai and voiced her appreciation of LexPride asking 4. Workgroup Updates Community Conversation on Race Community Toolbox— This workgroup was sunset. Mr. Osborne concluded that after working with this year's conversation on race planning team that a lot of studying and planning is required to produce an effective community conversation on race. Thus, a toolbox, as currently envisioned, would not be as productive as hoped. • Fair and Affordable Housing (April) (Ms. Brodner and Ms. Huang) —Ms. Brodner asked for clarification of subgroup charge. Mr. Osborne clarified that the goal of the workgroup is to research how the LHRC can work to eliminate housing discrimination and promote an open Lexington community. Mr. Osborne noted that Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston (FHCGB) was to be a partner in this work; however, FHCGB is shuttering. Per Mr. Osborne, former FHCGB board members have offered to discuss their past work with workgroup members and to recommend funding sources for a fair housing testing program. • Community Presentations with ADL on Hate Symbols (May) Officer Barry and Ms. Gisolfi— Dan Levinson, formerly of ADL New England, took his symbols presentation with him. His replacement at ADL New England has offered another presentation, Hate in the State (MA program); some hate symbols could be added. Workgroup will do further research and try to track down Mr. Levinson • Race Amity Day (2nd Sunday in June) (Mr. Osborne, Ms. Stembridge, and Ms. Roy). Ms. Roy noted that she felt it was important to join this workgroup as one of the women of Asian descent on the LHRC. • Social Media (Ms. Huang, Mr. Osborne and Ms. Roy) — no update • Not In Our Schools Joint Workgroup —LHRC (Ms. Gisolfi and Ms. Roy) —Ms. Gisolfi noted that Dr. Hackett (LPS) has asked all of the principals to review the NIOS information. Dr. Hackett will pick one school to pilot NIOS and that this workgroup will work with that principal to support the implementation of NIOS at that school. • Public comment-- Mabel Amar (resident) spoke on the need for people to speak up when something happens to anyone not just when something happens to them. 5. Incidents • Lt. Barry noted that there were three incidents which are being investigated by the police 1 publicly known (homophobic), 2 others not publicly disclosed(anti-Black, racist); all three at LHS — all three are ongoing investigations; LHRC does not have any additional information and will not have further updates until the investigations are closed. • Mr. Osborne noted that there are two community-related incidents,being investigated by LHRC members. +► Mr. Osborne noted in response to a question— one of the dilemmas of the LHRC is that while we encourage people to report all potential human rights violations (which invites a certain set of expectations), we are restricted on what information we can provide to the public about on-going issues and incidents. • Mr. Osborne recommended that as a community, when discussing incidents, we don't spread hate language. Even when repeating incident details, we should avoid using hate language. Also as a reminder, the LHRC cannot act on anything that has not been reported. • There are 2 incidents that did not rise to level of police involvement that are being investigated by LHRC, as noted above, to determine potential areas of human rights violations 1. Incident 1 -- (age, religious affiliation, disability) investigated by Mr. Osborne and Ms. Stembridge 2. Incident 2 -- (age, race, country of origin) Ms. Huang and Ms. Roy • One of the functions of the LHRC is to help defuse difficult situations as sometimes people just need to be heard and/or called out; LHRC also can help mediate situations • The Committee would like to hear from people who have experienced or observed discriminatory or hostile behavior based on race/color, religion, ethnicity/national origin, language, sex/sexual orientation/gender identity, disability, or age in Lexington. Ms. Gisolfi asks for the record, clarification on how to file a complaint 1. Email LHRC, humanl9 ghtscmte )lellngtone g 2. Use LHRC contact us webform, lith s://wwwAexin tTonma. gov//Iexin ,,ton-Daman 6.0hts comm ittee/webform s/contact ass • Can use webform to anonymously report discriminatory behavior; there is no follow up with reporter • Contact the Lexington Police Department at 911 Lt Bary noted in a face to face— no guarantee of anonymity • Discussion on incident investigation training, use of standard protocols Public comments on Meeting • Pastor Brent spoke on a'streamlined reporting process with no more than 3 avenues to report and stronger'consequences for bad behavior # Valerie,Overton spoke;on need for clarification on standards of endorsement, reporting procedures, and what rises to the level of needing an investigation 6. Closing comments Chair confirmed that meeting time will be back to 8:00 am and next meeting will be on March 1, 2019 at 8:00 am. Motion to Adjourn—Mr. Osborne, second Officer Barry 9:30 LIST OF DOCUMENTS Letter from Jill Hai LexPride Unity Event flyer Munroe Center Flyer Respectfully submitted, Monami D. Roy Clerk, LHRC