Rights group issues call to action

The Human Rights Education Institute is calling for community members to "be an active part of the change" as it announced its Anti-Racism Community Support and Education Commitment on Monday.

"In light of yet another series of killings of unarmed African Americans — Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, and most recently, George Floyd — the Human Rights Education Institute (HREI) is taking this time to publicly reflect on the grief that our community is experiencing," the announcement states. "We specifically acknowledge our African-American students, colleagues, and members of the African-American community, whose input is essential to transform our institutional role in moving our organization and community more toward the necessary and lifesaving work of anti-racism. We have been deeply wounded and the effects of trauma will take years to heal."

HREI is aware of the need for community support ahead, and it is preparing with others to "make a plan to move forward after the dust settles from these tragic weeks."

"We are ready to do the hard work to put an end to systemic racism that enables discrimination and protects the violation of human rights," the release said.

Executive director Jeanette Laster said HREI has received a flood of calls in the last few weeks, and volunteerism is up in response to everything that has been happening, locally and nationally.

"We’re still processing volunteers from last week," she said. "We processed like 17 in a 24-hour period."

As the nonprofit digs into this anti-racism campaign, Laster said it's important to acknowledge the role of education in this process.

"One of the most important things that people need to know is there is hope for change through education," she said. "Education provides an avenue for compassion and understanding."

And here in North Idaho, where the population is predominantly white and privileged, "we need to completely educate ourselves on what that means and how we have a responsibility, and we have power, to help our black community members feel welcomed, supported and uplifted," Laster said. "And that goes for all people of color."

In the coming weeks, HREI will dedicate a significant portion of time pooling resources for local communities. In the meantime, it announced a call to action to encourage everyone to:

• Seek out and support voices advocating for racial justice, especially black voices, even if it provides for your own discomfort initially.

• Actively listen to stories of dehumanization and racism with an open heart in an effort to seek compassion and understanding.

• Donate to and support local community civil rights organizations.

• Examine and invest in diversity, equity and inclusion in your organization or workplace.

• Get involved with elections to push for inclusive policy.

"The people have the power to facilitate change through their engagement with our local government and representatives,” Lasker said. “All of those things empower people to take their own personal actions and be accountable for this cause."

The Juneteenth Community Panel and Annual Chili Tasting will be held June 19 at HREI from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The panel will focus on the Black Lives Matter movement in the Northwest. Local city and county representatives and people of color from the area will answer questions, tell their stories and try to find solutions to move past racial disparities and into a change in culture and systems. This free session will be filmed and in-person attendance is limited.

Tickets: bit.ly/2XK8ocf