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To: From: RE: Date: Human Rights Commission Members Jill Bergquist, Chair Commission Subcommittees/Hate Crimes Response December 15,1999 We were unable to make quorum at last night's meeting due to lack of attendance. We have, however, some very urgent business that must be taken care of as soon as possible. F or these matters, we will need the assistance of the entire Human Rights Commission membership, and this letter is intended to enlist your assistance. I) Our most immediate need is a Hate Crimes Leafletting subcommittee. Last month, we discussed the on-going vandalism of a vehicle and other property belonging to a family from Eritrea living in the 1700 block of Centennial Avenue in Roseville. Along with Mort Rywick from the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission, I met first with Deputy Chief of Police Tom Alleva, and then with Gloria Dawit and her family, who have been the victims of the potentially racially- or ethnically-related vandalism. We agreed that the first step to take is to leaflet the neighborhood where this activity has been taking place. The proposed wording of the leaflet is attached to this letter. The Deputy Chief agreed that the Police Department would to partner with us as signatories to the leaflet, which would also be signed by the Human Rights Commission, and would go out under the city emblem. We also made sure that the proposed wording of the leaflet was acceptable to the Dawit family. Mort suggested that we contact area churches for assistance in the leafletting. That way, we will have a more visible presence in the neighborhood while handing out the community alert, and we will also have done something concrete in our efforts at making connections in the community. Churches can be a very valuable resource for us in that regard. A list of local churches recommended by Tom Duke, from the St. Paul Area Council of Churches, is also attached to this letter. Eric Egli has graciously agreed to be a part of a subcommittee to organize the leafletting, contacting the churches, and so forth. However, we absolutely need at least one other volunteer to assist Eric, and we need you to step up to the plate immediately. I would like to have this leafletting take place before the new year. If I do not hear from a volunteer, I will assign a Commission member to the task. 2) Our second most immediate need is to update our Bias Hate Crimes Response Network (third attachment). Some ofthe contact names are obsolete, and we also should add additional contact organizations. The attached list of churches is a good place to start. We should also contact Rotary and other service clubs, recontact the Chamber of Commerce, etc. The persons serving on this Bias Hates Crimes Response Network subcommittee will primarily be responsible for contacting network members and potential members by telephone or in person, and for having verification letters sent out.