City of Spokane Human Rights Commission

Join us as we kick off our Movies at the Pavilion series in fashion on Saturday, July 6…Barbie fashion! Get ready for an evening filled with food trucks and exciting giveaways, including a chance to win tickets to Beyond Pink's 15th Annual Design & Fashion Show. We encourage wearing pink to celebrate!

Discover the critical screening services offered by Beyond Pink, a local non-profit dedicated to supporting women's health, and find out how you can contribute. Before the movie, immerse yourself in the ultimate Barbie family fun, featuring our inaugural Spokane Pavilion Red Carpet for memorable photos, and a host of pre-show activities.

As the sun goes down, the Spokane Pavilion will light up pink until it’s time for the movie to begin. Come on Barbie, let’s go party!

Event Schedule:
- Food trucks open at 5pm
- Pre-show activities from 6-8pm, including Red Carpet, Photo Opportunities, Trivia, Entertainment by Vastra the Clown, Face Painting, and registration for the Beyond Pink Giveaway.
- Movie starts at 8:30pm.

THIS SATURDAY!

"Four finalists have been selected for consideration as the next Chief of the Spokane Police Department. The finalists were chosen following a national search led by an external firm that specializes in police chief recruitment. The search was conducted in conjunction with robust community engagement gathered through several public meetings, as well as surveys completed by the public and department personnel.

The following candidates were chosen by Mayor Lisa Brown based on feedback from a selection committee made up of city officials and community leaders:

***Kevin Hall – Assistant Chief of Police, Tucson Police Department
***Matthew Murray – Chief of Police, Yakima Police Department
***Tom Worthy – Chief of Police, The Dalles Police Department
***Kathleen Lanier – Colonel, Memphis Police Department

The finalists will participate in a public forum on Thursday, June 27 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Central Library. This event will give community members the opportunity to meet the finalists, learn about their experience, and hear what they will bring to the job if selected.

The event will consist of the candidates answering pre-selected questions, followed by informal mingling. The question-and-answer portion will be live-streamed on City Channel 5’s website and the City of Spokane page.

Following the event, community members will be able to share their feedback with the Mayor’s office via survey.

“I am incredibly grateful to all of those who have participated in our search for a new Chief of Police. This search included robust community engagement, ensuring that voices from across our community were heard. I sincerely thank the public for their invaluable feedback and the members of the selection committee for their dedication and hard work,” Mayor Brown said."

The four finalists for the next Chief of the Spokane Police Department will participate in a public forum on Thursday, June 27, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Central Library. Meet the finalists, learn about their experience, and hear what they will bring to the job if selected! https://my.spokanecity.org/news/releases/2024/06/12/spokane-police-chief-finalists-named/

Happy Juneteenth! Today marks the 159th anniversary of the day that General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, announcing that all 250,000+ previously enslaved black Americans in Texas were now free. General Granger’s historic June 19, 1865 announcement came over two years AFTER President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Juneteenth is also referred to as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, and Liberation Day.

Step up to the plate this Juneteenth for the Spokane Indians King Carl Baseball Night! 🌟 Join us on June 19 at 4 PM at Avista Stadium for a double-header filled with action and tribute. $1 from each ticket goes to the Sandy Williams Fund at the Carl Maxey Center. Celebrate history and community in one swing! ⚾

Did you know? Lorraine Hansberry was not only the first Black woman to have a play produced on Broadway but also a pioneering figure in LGBTQ history. Her fearless voice in "A Raisin in the Sun" and her life as a Black le***an in mid-20th-century America left an indelible mark on both theater and civil rights movements.

Human Rights Champions Award nominations will be accepted until 5pm today!

https://form.jotform.com/240847688876176

Human Rights Spokane

2024 Spokane Human Rights Champion Nomination Please click the link to complete this form.

On the 19th of this month our country will celebrate the Federal Holiday of “Juneteenth” and on behalf of the City of Spokane Human Rights Commission we believe that it is important to acknowledge & elevate “Juneteenth” in our community. “Juneteenth” is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States dating back to 1865, but it was only back on 6/17/21 that President Biden signed the bill making “Juneteenth” the 11th American Federal Holiday & the 1st to obtain legal observance as a Federal Holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was designated in 1983. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” & “19th”. On 6/19/1865 Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was 2½ years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official 1/1/1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. Later attempts to explain this 2½ year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. There is also the story that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. Last but not least, we have the story of Federal Troops waiting for the slave owners to reap the benefits of 1 last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All of which, or neither of these versions could be true. Certainly, for some, President Lincoln’s authority over the rebellious states was in question. For whatever reasons, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory. 1 of General Granger’s 1st orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.” The reactions to this profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate jubilation. While many lingered to learn of this new employer to employee relationship, many left before these offers were completely off the lips of their former ‘masters’ - attesting to the varying conditions on the plantations and the realization of freedom. Even with nowhere to go, many felt that leaving the plantation would be their first grasp of freedom. North was a logical destination and for many it represented true freedom, while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove the some into Louisiana, Arkansas & Oklahoma. Settling into these new areas as free men and women brought on new realities and the challenges of establishing a heretofore non-existent status for Black people in America. Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territory. The celebration of June 19th was coined “Juneteenth” and grew with more participation from descendants. The “Juneteenth” celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for gathering remaining family members. “Juneteenth” continued to be highly revered in Texas decades later, with many former slaves and descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date. In the early years, little interest existed outside the African American community in participation in the celebrations. In some cases, there was outwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of public property for the festivities. Most of the festivities found themselves out in rural areas around rivers and creeks that could provide for additional activities such as fishing, horseback riding and barbecues. Often the church grounds were the site for such activities. Eventually, as African Americans became landowners, land was donated and dedicated for these festivities. 1 of the earliest documented land purchases in the name of “Juneteenth” was organized by Rev. Jack Yates. This fund-raising effort yielded $1000 and the purchase of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas. In Mexia, Texas the local “Juneteenth” organization purchased Booker T. Washington Park, which had become the “Juneteenth” celebration site in 1898. There are accounts of “Juneteenth” activities being interrupted and halted by white landowners demanding that their laborers return to work. However, it seems most allowed their workers the day off and some even made donations of food and money. For decades these annual celebrations flourished, growing continuously with each passing year. In Booker T. Washington Park, as many as 20,000 African Americans once flowed through during the course of a week, making the celebration one of the largest in the state of Texas. Economic and cultural forces provided for a decline in “Juneteenth” activities and participants beginning in the early 1900’s. Classroom and textbook education in lieu of traditional home and family-taught practices stifled the interest of the youth due to less emphasis and detail on the activities of former slaves. Classroom text books proclaimed Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1/1/1863 as the date signaling the ending of slavery - and little or nothing on the impact of General Granger’s arrival on June 19th. The Depression forced many people off the farms and into the cities to find work. In these urban environments, employers were less eager to grant leaves to celebrate this date. Thus, unless June 19th fell on a weekend or holiday, there were very few participants available. July 4th was the already established Independence holiday and a rise in patriotism steered more toward this celebration. The Civil Rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s yielded both positive and negative results for the “Juneteenth” celebrations. While it pulled many of the African American youth away and into the struggle for racial equality, many linked these struggles to the historical struggles of their ancestors. This was evidenced by student demonstrators involved in the Atlanta civil rights campaign in the early 1960’s, who wore “Juneteenth” freedom buttons. Again in 1968, “Juneteenth” received another strong resurgence through the Poor Peoples March to Washington D.C., in which Reverend Ralph Abernathy’s call for people of all races, creeds, economic levels and professions to come to Washington to show support for the poor. Many of these attendees returned home and initiated “Juneteenth” celebrations in areas previously absent of such activity. In fact, 2 of the largest “Juneteenth” celebrations founded after this March are now held in Milwaukee and Minneapolis. On 1/1/1980, “Juneteenth” became an Official-State-Holiday in Texas through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. The successful passage of this bill marked “Juneteenth” as the 1st emancipation celebration granted Official-State-Recognition. Edwards has since actively sought to spread the observance of “Juneteenth” all across America. In modern times today, “Juneteenth” is enjoying a phenomenal growth rate within communities and organizations throughout the country. Institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Henry Ford Museum and others have begun sponsoring “Juneteenth”-centered activities. In recent years, several local and national “Juneteenth” organizations have arisen to take their place alongside older organizations - all with the mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture. “Juneteenth” today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all of the root’s tie back to this fertile soil from which a National Day of Pride is growing. The future of “Juneteenth” looks bright as the number of cities and states creating “Juneteenth” committees continues to increase. Respect and appreciation for all of our differences grow out of exposure and working together. Getting involved and supporting “Juneteenth” celebrations creates new bonds of friendship and understanding among us. This indeed brightens our future - and that is the Spirit of “Juneteenth”. And “Juneteenth” Festivities are a range of activities provided to entertain the masses, many of which continue in tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball are just a few of the typical “Juneteenth” activities you may witness today. “Juneteenth” almost always focused on education and self-improvement. Thus, often guest speakers are brought in, and the elders are called upon to recount the events of the past. Prayer services were also a major part of these celebrations. Certain foods became popular and subsequently synonymous with “Juneteenth” celebrations such as strawberry soda-pop. More traditional and just as popular was the barbecuing, through which “Juneteenth” participants could share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors - the newly emancipated African Americans, would have experienced during their ceremonies. Hence, the barbecue pit is often established as the center of attention at “Juneteenth” celebrations. Food was abundant because everyone prepared a special dish and various meats such as lamb, pork and beef which not available everyday were brought on this special occasion. A true “Juneteenth” celebration left visitors well satisfied and with enough conversation to last until the next. Dress was also an important element in early “Juneteenth” customs and is often still taken seriously, particularly by the direct descendants who can make the connection to this tradition's roots. During slavery there were laws on the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of the enslaved. During the initial days of the emancipation celebrations, there are accounts of former slaves tossing their ragged garments into the creeks and rivers to adorn clothing taken from the plantations belonging to their former masters.

"When the Inland Northwest Juneteenth Coalition’s Pillar Awards started in 2014, they were small enough to be held in the MLK Center. They’ve grown so much that the event this year is being held at the Fox Theater.

“Something positive is happening.,” said Alan Jones, Inland Northwest Juneteenth Coalition co-chair.

To mark the June 19 holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States, the Inland Northwest Juneteenth Coalition felt there was a need to honor and uplift people in the Black community and recognize ways they’re involved throughout the Spokane area, Jones said.

The Pillar Awards is a black-carpet event, but there is no dress code for attendees, so people can wear what they feel most comfortable in, he said. But the event is set up similar to the Oscars, with award winners being honored.

“It gives a way for the community to get to know others in the community, because a lot of times we don’t know everyone and who does what in the community,” Jones said. “This is a way people can see and find out and learn about other areas of the community that they might not be aware of.”

This year, he is looking to see new faces, because more people are aware of the event and deciding to show up.

“A lot of times, Seattle, Portland and a lot of the Pacific Northwest cities get a lot more recognition and love for different events like this,” Jones said. “We felt that this time, Spokane needs to be part of that where people say, ‘Spokane does that also,’ then we can start having people coming from across the state to come to these types of things.”

Doors open 6 p.m. Friday at the Fox Theater, and the awards show starts at 7 p.m. The Pillar Awards is the first of multiple Juneteenth events held through the Inland Northwest Juneteenth Coalition.

A pre-Father’s Day brunch – another dedication event – is on Saturday with R-Jay Barsh as the keynote speaker. Barsh is an assistant coach with the Gonzaga men’s basketball team.

Jones said the brunch is designed to praise and give recognition to fathers in the community.

“Mother’s Day gets a lot of the praise a lot of the time, but we know there are a lot of fathers out there and male mentor figures and father figures, especially in this day and age when men of color get a lot of bad stigma when it comes to fatherhood,” he said. “We try to find ways to make sure we’re acknowledging them, letting them know that you matter.”

The brunch allows fathers in the community to get together and praise each other while also helping each other out, Jones said.

“A lot of times the stereotype from male men of color is that they’re not present in their children’s lives, and we want to make sure we try to reverse that and try to change that narrative,” he said.

The brunch is at noon Saturday at the Spokane Community College Lair Student Center.

NYC’s Jazzy R&B Duo, featured on HBO, will be coming to Spokane for the first time for their performance titled “A Night Out with Acute Inflections.”

The nationally known jazz pair have been performing in Seattle, Portland and other jazz festivals across the country. Jones said this is the first time they are going to be in Spokane.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening at the Spokane Community College Auditorium. Tickets range from $15-35.

The Spokane Indians’ Wednesday night baseball game is King Carl Night, according to the City of Spokane. The game will honor Carl Maxey, a local civil rights activist and boxer, and $1 from each ticket will be donated to the Sandy Williams Fund in honor of the Carl Maxey Center.

The Juneteenth Park Celebration at 11 a.m. Tuesday honors the history of Juneteenth and features a range of activities and vendors.

Jones said the while the events honor and represent the Black community in Spokane, it is not geared toward one culture and is open to every community and person who wants to learn and be educated about Black culture.

The Martin Luther King Jr Center is hosting a Juneteenth Community Celebration this weekend with music, food and games.

Freda Gandy, MLK Center executive director, said there will be 40 organizations at the event, primarily social service agencies, with information about the services they provide and volunteer opportunities.

She is looking forward to getting the community together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company and hopes people can leave feeling more connected, she said at a Juneteenth kickoff event Thursday.

Gandy said history is important, and more people are celebrating now that it is a federal holiday.

“We have the opportunity to remember what happened and acknowledge what happened,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to bring celebration to Spokane, to our community and just to celebrate.”

Jada Richardson, who grew up with the MLK Center, said Saturday’s events are community-centered, which is why a lot of resources will be available.

Richardson said Juneteenth is a time to relax.

“A lot of times, as Black people, we are always going, going, going,” she said. “Juneteenth is one of those days to stop, reflect and think about the freedom we’ve been provided. Even though we’re still working toward global liberation, it’s taking a moment to relax … and celebrating that progress.”"

Juneteenth 2024: How and where to 'bring celebration to Spokane' When the Inland Northwest Juneteenth Coalition’s Pillar Awards started in 2014, they were small enough to be held in the MLK Center. They’ve grown so much that the event this year is being held at the Fox Theater.

***Pillar Awards – Friday, June 14, 6 p.m., Fox Theatre, 1001 W. Sprague Avenue. An awards show acknowledging and celebrating those who help uplift the African American community in Spokane.

***Juneteenth Community Celebration—Saturday, June 15, 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., MLK Jr. Community Center, 500 S. Stone Street. Join the Juneteenth community celebration at the MLK Jr. Community Center. Enjoy live music, food, giveaways, games, resource vendors, and more.

***Father’s Day Brunch – Saturday, June 15, 12 p.m., Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene Street. A free brunch honoring fathers, male mentors, and father figures who play an important role in their children’s lives or the children they mentor or raise.

***Juneteenth Community Celebration – Wednesday, June 19, 11 a.m., Grant Park, 1015 S. Arthur Street. Join the Juneteenth community celebration in the park! There will be live music, food, giveaways, games, and more!

***Spokane Indians King Carl Night – Wednesday, June 19, 6:35 p.m., Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana Street. Join the Spokane Indians in celebrating the life and legacy of local civil rights activist and champion boxer, Carl Maxey. $1 from each ticket sold from this group ticket offer will be donated to the Sandy Williams Fund for the Carl Maxey Center.

Celebrate Juneteenth in Spokane Juneteenth celebrations happening in Spokane

The City of Spokane Human Rights Commission is currently accepting applications for an upcoming vacancy as a Youth Commissioner (14 to 18), which the selected applicants will be appointed to serve a 1-year-term. The deadline to apply will remain open until filled.

Plus, the Spokane Human Rights Commission is currently accepting applications for a vacancy as a Commissioner in the "City At-Large position", which the selected applicants will be appointed to serve a 3-year-term. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2024.

Current Vacancies Apply to join one of Spokane's Boards, Commissions, or Committees vacancies.

The City of Spokane Human Rights Commission is currently accepting applications for a vacancy as a Commissioner in the "City At-Large position", which the selected applicants will be appointed to serve a 3-year-term. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2024.

Plus, the Human Rights Commission is currently accepting applications for an upcoming vacancy as a Youth Commissioner (14 to 18), which the selected applicants will be appointed to serve a 1-year-term. The deadline to apply will remain open until filled.

Current Vacancies Apply to join one of Spokane's Boards, Commissions, or Committees vacancies.

"The Lands Council will host a legislative summit honoring Expo ‘74’s legacy of ecological preservation and looking toward a future threatened by the climate crisis.

The summit will take place at the Spokane Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 21, and will bring together local experts and policy officials to propose new climate justice laws during the 2025 Washington Legislative Session.

Mayor Lisa Brown will offer remarks after an opening ceremony hosted by Inland Northwest Indigenous leaders.

Governor Jay Inslee, who has dedicated recent months to shoring-up the Climate Commitment Act of 2021, will also be in attendance.

Dr. Margo Hill, the Interim Director of American Indian Studies at Eastern Washington University, will also lead a portion of the summit.

Expo ‘74 was the first environmental World’s Fair and highlighted both US House Speaker Tom Foley and President Richard Nixon’s ecological policies."

Legislative summit to discuss environmental issues, honor Expo ‘74’s legacy SPOKANE, Wash. – The Lands Council will host a legislative summit honoring Expo ‘74’s legacy of ecological preservation and looking toward a future threatened by the climate crisis.

"Spokane landlords will no longer be able to ban their tenants from installing an air conditioner.

After a unanimous vote Monday by the Spokane City Council, the ordinance introduced by Councilwoman Kitty Klitzke in May will take effect in mid-July, just as scorching temperatures are likely to grip the Inland Northwest.

The council pointed to the disproportionate effects on low-income and other marginalized communities of extreme weather events such as the 2021 heat dome, which caused at least 19 deaths in Spokane County, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

Originally, the law would have been in effect during “extreme heat events” as defined by the National Weather Service, but the ordinance approved Monday removes that restriction and will be effective throughout the year. A provision that would have allowed landlords to require the devices be removed during the winter was also removed, after tenants lobbied for permission to use multipurpose devices that may also provide heat or dehumidify.

The ordinance went through a number of revisions before its adoption Monday, including to tighten up possible loopholes that still may have allowed landlords to prevent the installation of an air conditioner, including if the device needed brackets to be installed in a window.

Installation can still be prevented if it would cause “unreasonable” damage or require “excessive” use of brackets, which is not clearly defined but would hopefully be considered by local courts if a tenant sued under the new law, Klitzke said.

Landlords can also require that they be the ones responsible for installation, removal and inspection of a unit."

Spokane landlords can no longer ban tenants from installing AC units Spokane landlords will no longer be able to ban their tenants from installing an air conditioner.

Celebrate Juneteenth in Spokane Juneteenth celebrations happening in Spokane

"Since becoming president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP in December, Lisa Gardner has been at the forefront of responding to several racist, culturally insensitive, and upsetting episodes in the region. It's a new experience for Gardner, who always was more comfortable serving behind the scenes."

NAACP chapter president continues grandmother's leadership legacy Lisa Gardner, president of the NAACP, didn't have leadership or advocacy aspirations but was nevertheless compelled by the legacy of her grandmother to continue her work.

PROCLAMATION 24-001--A proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the City of Spokane and celebrating diversity and inclusion for all.

WHEREAS, the City of Spokane Human Rights Commission recognizes and values the diversity of our community and the contributions made by all of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the LGBTQ+ community is an integral part of Spokane,
contributing to the enrichment of our city through their roles in business, education, the arts, community service, and countless other areas in our community; and

WHEREAS, the history of the LGBTQ+ movement is one of resilience and determination, and Pride Month is a time to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 and the ongoing struggle for equal justice under the law; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative to acknowledge the barriers that members of the LGBTQ+ community face, and to work collectively towards fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and equitable society; and

WHEREAS, the City of Spokane Human Rights Commission is committed to supporting visibility, dignity, and equality for the LGBTQ+ community and all people in the community;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Commission hereby
recognizes June 2024 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Spokane and encourage all residents to recognize the enduring efforts and ongoing contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

Adopted by the City of Spokane Human Rights Commission this 6th day of June 2024.

808 W. SPOKANE FALLS BLVD, SPOKANE, WA 99201
MY.SPOKANECITY.ORG/BCC/COMMISSIONS/SPOKANE-HUMAN-RIGHTS-COMMISSION/

"The Spokane Police Department (SPD) has arrested three suspects concerning the vandalization of the downtown Spokane Pride mural.

On Wednesday, June 5, around 9 p.m., SPD officers responded to the intersection of Howard Street and Spokane Falls Boulevard following a report of vandalism. According to police, a complaint received via 911 indicated that multiple people on scooters were causing damage to the newly painted Pride mural.

Several witnesses observed the crime, and one of the suspects reportedly yelled obscenities toward them before departing the area, as stated by SPD.

Officers noted widespread damage, including black scuff marks consistent with scooter wheels, across the entirety of the mural. The area is clearly marked to keep traffic away, having been recently repainted to repair previous damage.

After speaking with witnesses and reviewing video surveillance footage of the incident, officers located three suspects matching witness descriptions and video evidence. They detained the suspects in the area of Washington and Spokane Falls Boulevard, as reported by SPD, just 34 minutes after the initial 911 call.

One 19-year-old suspect was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail for First-Degree Malicious Mischief. Two other suspects (minors) were arrested and booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center on the same charge."

Downtown Spokane Pride Mural vandalism leads to multiple arrests SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Police Department (SPD) has arrested three suspects concerning the vandalization of the downtown Spokane Pride mural.