The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission announced this week that it has created a Civil Rights Division.
Its duties will include “investigating civil tensions, conflicts, and incidents (and) enforcing anti-discrimination laws,” the commission said, as well as education and outreach “to foster a culture of acceptance and respect for all Pennsylvanians.”
The division will include a staff of civil rights outreach coordinators and a supervisor. The commission said it has a full slate of candidates and is conducting interviews.
“In recent years, we have witnessed a disturbing surge in hate crimes and acts of discrimination across the nation and in our commonwealth,” Commission Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter said in a statement. “… We must take a stand against hate, intolerance, and discrimination in all its forms.
“We must work tirelessly to promote a culture of acceptance, respect, and equality. A dedicated Civil Rights Division within the PHRC will play a crucial role in this fight.”
Active since 1955, the commission is charged with enforcing Pennsylvania’s anti-discrimination law, including the Human Relations Act and the Fair Educational Opportunities Act.
“The creation of a permanent civil rights division is a critical step in the fight to root out hate and discrimination in our communities, our Commonwealth, and our Nation,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.
