Human Rights Commission

The Text of the Proclamation reads:

Proclamation

Whereas: January 19th, 2022 marks the one-year anniversary of the racist murder of Mr. Henry Tapia, an Afro-Dominican member of the Belmont community;

Whereas: Mr. Tapia was an important member of our community. His close friends called him "Henny" and close family called him "Henrito." His passing leaves behind his three children, his partner, mother, father, numerous family members and friends, and the gaming community with which he was closely connected. He was proud of his Afro-Dominican roots and was passionate about Afrobeats music. His life mattered and should be memorialized;

Whereas: The Town of Belmont, in partnership with the Belmont Human Rights Commission, marks this day of remembrance in order to bring awareness to the racist violence that led to his death and the grief his loss brings to his family and our community, and to serve as a reminder that ongoing anti-racist work has to continue in order to prevent future violence against Black and Brown members of our community and individuals who work in and visit our town;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Select Board of the Town of Belmont hereby proclaims January 19th as Henry Tapia Memorial Day.

This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. Having become law in 1990, the ADA ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It was amended in 2008, changing the definition of discrimination against persons with disability can be effectively challenged in court. Passage of the ADA is the result of years of advocacy efforts by a broad coalition of these diverse disability advocacy groups. Organizations such as the American Foundation for the Blind, the Epilepsy Foundation of America, National Association of the Deaf, National Mental Health Association, and many others united to support a broad definition of disability in the act and strongly opposed any attempts to exclude particular groups from coverage. It is an amazing feat that disability advocacy groups with competing needs and agendas were able to maintain unity over two decades to ensure passage of the ADA with a broad and inclusive definition of disabilities. prejudices and structural discrimination against persons with disabilities are still common. Society as a whole has a lot of work to do to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. The Belmont Human Rights Commission encourages Belmont community members to support the civil rights of persons with disabilities both in the community and in the workplace. Together, we build an equitable and inclusive society for all.

The Belmont Human Rights Commission is dedicated to fighting discrimination in all forms and increasing visibility and awareness of issues regarding diversity and discrimination in our community. If you have experienced discrimination in Belmont, please email us or call 617-993-2795.

The Belmont Human Rights Commission wants to extend its support and solidarity with Buffalo’s Black community after the outrageous domestic terrorist attack waged against them on May 14th. Their community supermarket was expressly targeted because its clients were predominantly Black. Members of the Black community were tragically slaughtered to send a message of hate and white supremacy. That is why, along with other Belmont community organizations, the Belmont Human Rights Commission joins the Buffalo community in remembering the victims who were fatally wounded in this heinous attack: Aaron Salter Jr., Celestine Chaney, Roberta A. Drury, Andre Mackniel, Katherine Massey, Margus D. Morrison, Heyward Patterson, Geraldine Talley, Ruth Whitfield, and Pearl Young. Their humanity and the loss suffered by the survivors and their loved ones will not be forgotten. We also want to extend our support and solidarity to the victims and families affected by recent acts of domestic terrorism occurring over the same time period in a Taiwanese church in Laguna Woods, CA, resulting in the death of John Cheng, MD, and the targeted shootings in Dallas, TX's Koreatown. The Belmont Human Rights Commission also recognizes that the root cause of these domestic terrorist attacks is white supremacist ideology which has become more mainstream in political discourse. The Commission repudiates all forms of hate and discrimination whether in its most subtle and pernicious forms - such as discrimination and prejudice - or in its more violent and outrageous forms - such as terroristic and racist mass murders. The Belmont Human Rights Commission encourages all public and private organizations community-wide to stand against hate and terror in all of its forms. Historically, we have seen that when hate-filled individuals and organizations are allowed to spew their hate unchecked, it festers and brings disastrous outcomes. Those of us who are part of historically marginalized groups and targets of hate organizations should not shoulder the burden of legitimizing our existence. We need allies in all demographics to stand for love, human rights, and peace. May is mental health awareness month, and the Belmont Human Rights Commission wants to clarify the myth regarding mental health and acts of terror. The vast majority of terrorists and mass shooters do not engage in such behaviors by reason of a mental illness. Folks coping with mental illness are often stigmatized when ill-informed individuals point to mental illness as the culprit for violence, when, in fact, it is hate ideology and externalized personal grievances which often motivate these individuals to terrorize others. Finally, the Belmont Human Rights Commission offers our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims. We stand in solidarity with the entire Buffalo community, Laguna Woods community, and the Dallas community, and we hold them in our thoughts and prayers as they begin the journey of grieving, healing, and coming to terms with this horrific act of domestic terrorism. As we move forward, we encourage our community to choose not only sentiments but actions. For example, consider the viewing and consumer choices that reflect your values, and use your voice, especially if it is one of privilege, to stand for love, peace, and human rights. 

The Belmont Human Rights Commission is dedicated to fighting discrimination in all forms and increasing visibility and awareness of issues regarding diversity and discrimination in our community. If you have experienced discrimination in Belmont, please email us or call 617-993-2795.

Resources:

• SAMHSA’s national disaster distress hotline provides support for those affected by this tragedy.
• Southern Poverty Law Center

August 12 commemorates International Youth Day. Nowadays our youth has been asked to shoulder so many societal burdens, and the global pandemic has exacerbated those burdens. The Belmont Human Rights Commission celebrates the resilience of our youth and calls upon adults to support the needs of our youth - to grant them the bright future they deserve. Our youth deserve improved wellness and a united and safe school community where they are free to develop a unique sense of self and possibility. We must do better for our youth, and a great way to start would be by example. Become active in helping the community, show kindness when encountering those who are different from you, and model to your children how to do the same. Model for your children how to have difficult conversations in a safe and loving manner, and let your children see you seek help and support for yourself, so that they have a pathway for finding help if they need it in the future. For more resources, the reader can review the Belmont Wellness Coalition, Moms Demand Action, and the Youth and Family Services information for the Town of Belmont.

The Belmont Human Rights Commission is dedicated to fighting discrimination in all forms and increasing visibility and awareness of issues regarding diversity and discrimination in our community. If you have experienced discrimination in Belmont, please email us or call 617-993-2795.

Juneteenth is observed annually as a federal holiday on June 19, celebrating the emancipation of enslaved peoples in the United States. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation outlawing slavery in the original Confederate states. On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger enforced the freedom of enslaved people in the last held-out state in the confederacy, Texas. While acknowledging the long-lasting effects of slavery on American history, we celebrate Juneteenth in honor of those people who were wrongfully enslaved in the United States. Juneteenth reminds us of our responsibility to continue the fight for full equity and justice for people of African descent.

The Belmont Human Rights Commission is dedicated to fighting discrimination in all forms and increasing visibility and awareness of issues regarding diversity and discrimination in our community. If you have experienced discrimination in Belmont, please email us or call 617-993-2795.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court decision that struck down U.S. laws against marriage between people based on differences in skin color or ancestry. The plaintiffs, Richard and Mildred Loving, whose marriage we celebrate every year on June 12, were an interracial couple that changed America and whose love forced the Court to rule that "distinctions between citizens solely because of their ancestry" are "odious to a free people." The ruling reconfirmed people's intrinsic right to be free and the desire to be united despite differences. Since the Loving victory, American's attitudes toward interracial marriage have greatly improved, from 20% in support in 1967 to 94% in 2021. Among newlyweds in 2019, roughly one in five (19%) were interracial. While we celebrate Loving Day, we should also remember that America has a long way to go toward racial reconciliation. The Belmont Human Rights Commission reaffirms our commitment to the cause of racial justice.

The Belmont Human Rights Commission is dedicated to fighting discrimination in all forms and increasing visibility and awareness of issues regarding diversity and discrimination in our community. If you have experienced discrimination in Belmont, please email us or call 617-993-2795.

According to the New York Times, in 2021 there were 693 mass shootings with 28 of those incidents involving four or more fatalities. The Gun Violence Archive (GVA) counts 232 so far in 2022. The Belmont Human Rights Commission joins the victims of gun violence in their sorrow and despair. This state of affairs needs to change for our families and children to be safe in our community. The BHRC supports local actions in support of communities affected by gun violence including the student walkout at Belmont High School on June 2. For resources on how to get involved and learn more about the issues the reader can review the March for Our Lives, Moms Demand Action, and Rolling Stone: "A Sandy Hook Mom on How to Fight for Victims of Gun Violence - Without Traumatizing Their Families." 

The Belmont Human Rights Commission is dedicated to fighting discrimination in all forms and increasing visibility and awareness of issues regarding diversity and discrimination in our community. If you have experienced discrimination in Belmont, please email us or call 617-993-2795.

World Environment Day on June 5 is the largest international recognition for the environment. Held annually since 1974, this event is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). For 2022, the theme for the globe is "Only One Earth." The goal is to inspire positive change among all sectors: governments, businesses, civil society, schools, and communities. This year is historic because it is the 50th anniversary of the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, after which environmental protection and the alleviation of poverty were clearly understood as linked. Human rights and the environment are inseparable. Where there is degradation of the environment, due to pollution or climate change, for example, human rights are directly affected. A safe, clean, and healthy environment is necessary for human rights to be validated. Most often it is the poor and marginalized who are affected by environmental degradation and (therefore) suffer also a degradation of their human rights. World Environment Day seeks to inspire the global change necessary both to care for the environment and to care for those who live in it. 

The Belmont Human Rights Commission is dedicated to fighting discrimination in all forms and increasing visibility and awareness of issues regarding diversity and discrimination in our community. If you have experienced discrimination in Belmont, please email us or call 617-993-2795.