2012 December Newsletter 2
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Kentucky Commission On Human Rights ALL DOORS ARE OPEN IN KENTUCKY Newsletter Commission holds its 2012 Commission negotiates D Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of $52,000 agreement in disability E Fame Induction Ceremony complaint C Over 600 people joined the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights on Oct. 17 at the historic Lyric Theatre in Cathy Rhoden complained to the Kentucky Commission E Lexington Ky., for the 2012 Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of on Human Rights in 2008 that a new principal at Knox Fame Induction Ceremony. The commission inducted 14 Central High School in Barbourville, Ky., where Rhoden had M new members, people who have led the way for equal taught for close to 20 years, began to deny her reasonable opportunity in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with their accommodations she had previously been receiving for her B hard work, dedication and commitment. disability. She said she thought the accommodations were simple requests for someone with limited mobility due to a E The inductees were nominated by people from across the progressive neurological condition. Rhoden claimed she was state. The commission formed a panel of volunteer citizen also ultimately denied a promotion based on her disability R judges representing a variety of professions and regions. and believed that she was forced into resigning in 2010. The judges selected the inductees this year from a pool of (According to a news report by WYMT Mountain Television, 33 nominations. Inductees and nominees were celebrated Knox County has since hired a different principal at the at the event as champions who have made significant school.) 2 contributions to civil and human rights. Cathy Rhoden , left, received $52,000 from Knox Co. School Board as part of a The 2012 inductees 0 conciliation agreement. We commend bring to 138 the our attorney Alysia Robbens, right, and membership in the 1 our members who worked on this case. Hall of Fame, which was created in 2 2000 by the Rhoden’s discrimination commission. The complaint against the Knox programs honors County Board of Education role models for was based on the protected social justice and class of disability in the area beacons for the of employment, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act cause of equality and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). on many fronts. Based on its investigation findings, the commission issued Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame members represent past notice to Knox County Schools that probable cause existed and present eras and may be living or deceased. See page to believe that the school system discriminated against two for profiles and photos of the new inductees. Rhoden. Before the commission held a final hearing in the Following is a list of the 2012 inductees: case, Rhoden and the Knox County School Board chose to • Louis Benn (deceased) (Louisville) resolve the matter with a conciliation agreement, which the • Richard Brown (Owensboro) commission then negotiated. The Knox County Board of • George Burney (Louisville) Education denied any allegations of violations of the law. In • Rev. Thurmond Coleman, Sr. (Louisville) addition to the $52,000 compensation paid to Rhoden, the • Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins (Lexington) school system agreed to require school officials to undergo • Laken Cosby Jr. (Louisville) civil rights compliance training, and agreed to undergo • Delores Delahanty (Louisville) compliance monitoring by the commission for one year. • Rev. Charles Elliott (Louisville) Rhoden sent a message to the commission that said, “I will • Audrey Louise Grevious (Lexington) be so happy for the commission staff to feel appreciated • Jesse Harris (deceased) (Louisville) even if for a day...I hope everyone knows that I will never • Carol Jackson (Ashland) forget their kindness and help during one of the darkest • Priscilla Johnson (Lexington) periods of my life..I came out with such a good outcome, • Edgardo Mansilla (Louisville) thanks to everyone’s hard work and faith in me...I hope the • Marcellus Mayes (Louisville) message resonates with others.” Civil Rights Hall of Fame continued next page Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame 2012 Inductees From left to right, Philip Taliaferro III, who nominated former Gov. Collins, former Gov. Martha L. Collins, Jeanette Stephens, Robert Jefferson, George L. Burney, Carol Jackson, Rev. Charles Elliott, Commission Exec. Director John J. Johnson kneeling, Laken Cosby Jr. seated, Dr. Kevin Cosby, Priscilla Johnson, Edgardo Mansilla, Rev. Etolia C. White, Rev. Ronald Lee Holmes, Rev. Thurmond Coleman, and Richard Benn, who accepted the inductee award on behalf of his late father Louis Benn. he 2012 Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame induction Richard E. Brown, Rev. Thurmond TCeremony provided a wonderful b: 1942, Coleman Sr., b: afternoon of celebration of civil Owensboro. 1926, Louisville. and human rights in Kentucky. Former member of Served 45 years as The 600 participants helped the the Kentucky pastor of First Kentucky Commission on Human Commission on Baptist Church in Rights recognize the 33 nominees Human Rights and Jeffersontown. including the 14 inductees who a statewide leader Served 16 years as have helped, through their hard of the NAACP. member of state Human Rights work and dedication, improve equal Promoted the hiring of minorities in Commission, the longest tenure of opportunity and access and make Owensboro city government. Stood anyone who ever served on the board, better the lives of all Kentuckians. up for human rights against the Ku before retiring in 2008. Supported Klux Klan and worked with the NAACP creation of Kentucky Civil Rights Hall The Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame to help black coal miners when they of Fame and long-time advocate for can be viewed online at www.kchr. faced threats. civil rights with the NAACP, the Justice ky.gov. Resource Center and other groups. George L. Burney, Louis M. Benn, b: 1928, Louisville. Martha Layne 1912-2005, Fought for civil Collins, b: 1936, Louisville. A rights causes for Lexington. philanthropist and nearly 60 years, Governor of longtime manager lobbying for equal Kentucky, 1983- of the JC Penney rights for 1987, first woman store in downtown minorities. to hold the office. Louisville. Served Longtime director Signed Martin on boards of of civil-rights Luther King Jr. numerous organizations that activist agency called People’s Rights state holiday bill in 1986. Former high promoted civil rights, including the in Demanding Equality, which school teacher worked to improve Louisville Urban League. annually sponsors the Dr. Martin education, made kindergarten Desegregated restrooms at his store Luther King Jr. motorcade and mandatory for all public school and raised funds for thousands of memorial service. Organizer of students and established mandatory youth scholarships. numerous food, toy and clothes drives testing for teachers. Increased state for the needy and voter-registration funding of poor school districts, and campaigns. served as cochair of Kentucky Task Force on the Economic Status of 2 Women. Audrey Louise Ross Laken Cosby Jr. Grevious, b: 1930, Priscilla F. Johnson (no birth date), Lexington. Survived (no birth date), Louisville. First beatings and Lexington. Served African American to threats while taking as chairwoman of chair the Jefferson part in sit-ins the Kentucky County Board protesting Commission on of Education, segregation in the Human Rights for in 1988. Served 1950s and 1960s. eight years. Also long tenure on the Kentucky Board Longtime teacher was chair of the of Education, including two terms and principal at elementary schools in Lexington Human Rights Commission as chairman. Served as director of Lexington. Used her position to fight and was director of minority affairs for housing for the Kentucky Human for integration and demanding that the Administrative Office of the Rights Commission. Started training children not be separated by race in Courts, where she encouraged program for real-estate professionals classrooms or in housing. Served as minority youth to pursue careers in to prevent discrimination in sale and president of the Lexington NAACP law. Worked on voter-registration rental of housing. One-time president and also was a member of Congress drives and has worked with Kentucky of Louisville NAACP. for Racial Equality. judges to ensure fair treatment for minorities. Dolores Delahanty, b: 1929, Louisville. Dr. Jesse Harris, She and late 1941-2012, Edgardo Nestor husband, Judge Louisville. Mansilla, b: 1953, Robert Delahanty, Longtime organizer Louisville. Native of were activists in for United Food Argentina, who the 1960s civil- & Commercial became executive rights movement Workers Union director of the in Louisville, Local 227. Fought Americana participating in to reduce discrimination in the Community Center demonstrations to end segregation. workplace. Host of gospel music radio in Louisville in 1993; Helped establish Liberty House for show on WLOU that strived to bring the center strives to provide support to abandoned children and Winter Help people of different races together. recent immigrants and is a place where program to assist low-income families Founder of Faces of Our Children they can celebrate their culture. He in paying heating bills. Cofounder of Sickle Cell Foundation. He died on counsels people in detention centers Women’s Political Caucus and was an Sept. 22 after an illness shortly before who face deportation and has served elected Jefferson County Fiscal Court the induction ceremony. as an advocate for the rights of commissioner. immigrants, especially Latinos. Carol Jackson, b: Recipient of the Charles Weisberg Rev. Charles Elliott 1952, Ashland. Humanitarian Award from the National Jr., b: 1934, Longtime Conference of Christians and Jews. Louisville. Pastor of chairwoman of King Solomon Ashland Human Marcellus L. Mayes, Missionary Baptist Rights Commission b: 1958, Louisville. Church for more and first African President of the than 50 years. Spent American woman Metro Disability most of life helping elected to the Coalition, a the poor, fighting Ashland Louisville group that corruption and Independent Board of Education.