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65 Division Ave.
541-688-8123
(Tanning available
at this location)
Fred Meyer
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3333 W. 11th Ave.
541-345-2592
Human Rights Commission
works for equality, justice
The commission works
to resolve discrimination
issues through mediation
and administrative action
By Ayisha Yahya
News Editor
What would you do if you walked
into a restaurant and were denied
service because you are gay? Or if
you were refused employment be
cause the manager felt Hispanics
had inadequate English skills? What
if you were treated with unnecessary
suspicion because you were dressed
a certain way or had particular reli
gious beliefs?
Violations of human rights occur
daily around the country. Here in Eu
gene, residents can get help through
the City of Eugene's Human Rights
Program, which aims to combat hu
man rights violations.
Eugene initiated the Human Rights
Program in the mid-1960s to work
primarily on race relations. In the
years following, it has evolved into an
entity that seeks to address all types of
discrimination and human rights is
sues, from community-police rela
tions to fair housing and accessibility
Jessica Waters Photo Editor
Human Rights Commissioner Sheila Coats (left) and Francisca Leyva-Johnson discuss
committee business in the Human Rights Program office at City Hall.
for the disabled.
Human Rights Program Manager
Greg Rikhoff said the program's mis
sion has been to promote the under
standing and the protection of peo
ple's human rights.
"We see ourselves as an opportu
nity to create community response,"
he said.
The department has three staff
members and more than 50 volun
teers. Fourteen of the volunteers are
selected by the Eugene City Council
and serve on the Human Rights Com
mission. Most of the volunteers, who
Turn to RIGHTS, page 12C
Local woman fights racism,
carries torch for social causes
Bahati Ansari established
local “racism-free zones"
to promote mutual respect
By Ayisha Yahya
News Editor
Bahati Ansari's sonorous voice car
ried over the hundreds of people gath
ered outside Autzen Stadium for a
march Aug. 28 in remembrance of
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a
dream" speech.
Quickly, she roused the crowd
into song.
"If I had a hammer," Ansari sang,'
"I'd hammer in the morning, I'd ham
mer in the noontime ... I'd hammer
for love, I'd hammer for justice."
The event was one of many Ansari
has participated in or organized in
the name of human and civil rights.
The Eugene resident has been ham
mering away at racism, intolerance
and other forms of persecution for
almost thirty years. She is currently
the director of the National Racism
Free Zone, which she operates from
Jefferson Middle School. She also
works as a counselor and Safe and
Drug Free middle school coordina
tor at the school.
Ansari said the Racism Free Zone,
which she started in response to preju
dice her sons experienced at a Eugene
middle school, is a project that allows
people to create a space where racism
and its effects can be addressed.
"It is a concept where you're creat
ing an environment where you can
deal with racism," she said.
Apart from Jefferson Middle
School, other places including Lane
Community College and the city of
Eugene have adopted racism-free or
diversity zones. Ansari has traveled
throughout the nation to talk about
the project's value and even pre
sented at the World Conference
Against Racism in Durban, South
Africa in 2001.
To implement a zone, each group
goes through an initial training,
then the group declares their area
racism-free. Each group tailors its
own program in ways they feel will
be the most beneficial. Ansari said
they must rededicate the space an
nually as a constant reminder of
their commitment.
"Kids get involved in it," she said.
"They make it their own." She said Jef
Turn to RACISM, page 15C
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