Antelope Valley Human Relations Commission

HATE CRIME? – The windows in the back of Debbie Phillips’ Lancaster home show the graffiti left by an unknown person Wednesday night. Phillips said she notified the AV Human Relations Commission and the American Civil Liberties Union about the incident, but because the graffiti didn’t directly mention religion, Commission President Darren Parker said he doesn’t know if the incident can be categorized as a hate crime. EVELYN KRISTO/Valley Press

Woman protested City Hall posting ‘In God We Trust’

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Friday, May 30, 2008.

By VERONICA ROCHA
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER – A Lancaster woman’s home was vandalized overnight Wednesday with “In God We Trust or ?” painted across her windows in what she believes is retaliation for speaking out against placing a similar phrase in City Council chambers.

Debbie Phillips said she spotted the bold, black lettering on two windows and a sliding glass door – marked by someone who entered her fenced backyard – after she woke up Thursday morning.

“I feel like somebody came in my home and invaded my space,” Phillips said.

Phillips said she notified the Antelope Valley Human Relations Commission, which investigates hate crimes, and the American Civil Liberties Union about the incident.

“I want this to be noted in the crime rate as a hate crime,” she said.

Commission President Darren Parker said the group is investigating whether Thursday’s vandalism qualified as a hate crime.

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Tags: Darren Parker, Graffiti, Religion, Task Force, Vandalism by admin
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This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

By JULIE DRAKE
Valley Press Staff Writer

PALMDALE – Members of the Antelope Valley Human Relations Commission will have to wait at least one more month to hear an official response from Eastside Union School District trustees regarding alleged sexist and racist remarks from one board member to another.

In April, an unidentified Eastside trustee complained to the task force that a fellow trustee referred to female trustees as “girls” who follow his directions and also said African Americans are only good at sports, according to a task force official.

After an investigation, task force President Darren Parker said the group would recommend Eastside trustees undergo diversity and sensitivity training. He also asked that trustees attend Monday’s meeting to report what measures the board took to address the complaints.

Eastside President J. Altin Ginn was expected at Monday’s meeting, but he was in Sacramento on a lobbying trip, Parker said.

“Unfortunately, most of the members of the board could not be with us tonight,” he said. “They made every effort to try to get down here, at least most of the members that were absent.”

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Tags: Diversity, Education, Sexism by admin
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This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Friday, May 2, 2008.

By NORMAN SHOAF
Valley Press Religion Editor

LANCASTER – “There is no faith unless it is interfaith,” Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak told a gathering of approximately 60 listeners Thursday evening at the Antelope Valley Interfaith Council National Day of Prayer Service at the Antelope Valley Church at the Center of Light .

By turns cordial and confrontational, keynote speaker Beliak praised Valley efforts at religious inclusion – and condemned what he called the hijacking of the National Day of Prayer by the Christian Right.

Beliak is a leader of the organization JewsOnFirst, whose proclaimed mission is to protect the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and lobby for an inclusive National Day of Prayer.

“How can National Day of Prayer leaders have their day year after year when they exclude all but fundamentalist Christians?” Beliak said. “God speaks in many languages, nationalities and cultures. This is a wonderful banquet.

“You’re not here to convert me, and I’m not here to convert you,” Beliak said of the multiple religions represented at the fifth annual event. “But are you an honest representation of God’s love.”

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This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Thursday, May 1, 2008.

By JULIE DRAKE
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER – An unidentified Eastside Union School District trustee has complained to the Antelope Valley Human Relations Commission that a fellow trustee referred to female trustees as “girls” who follow his directions and also said that African Americans are only good at sports, a task force official said.

After investigating, task force President Darren Parker said the task force’s recommendation will be for Eastside trustees to undergo diversity and sensitivity training and to refer to district and state policy.

The task force will offer support and mediation, training and other resources for training, he said.

“They’ve got to clean up house or we get back involved,” Parker said.

The task force will discuss the complaint and its investigation into it at its next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 19, at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, 38350 Sierra Highway, Palmdale. Parker said Eastside trustees will be asked to attend the meeting to report what measures they have taken to address the complaints.

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Tags: Diversity, Mediation, Racism, Sexism, Stereotypes, Task Force by admin
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