For years, members of the York City Human Relations Commission Board and other racial justice advocates have been asking for a county-wide Human Relations Commission (HRC). It is past time to establish a County-level authority to receive, investigate, and address complaints of discrimination. 

We ask that the York County, Pennsylvania, government establish and fund an office and sufficient staff so that all such complaints can be investigated and resolved in a timely manner. 

The Human Relations Commission of PA handles complaints of discrimination in Housing, Employment, Education, and even in how you are treated in a store or restaurant that is open to the public, known as a Public Accommodation.  Another task of the Human Relations Commission is to educate the public so that everyone knows their rights and how to lodge a complaint. 

I was just at a rally where our city HRC investigator asked how many people knew what the Human Relations Commission is and what it does.  The response was pathetic.  This is one of the few groups that is empowered by law to actually bring consequences to bear in cases of discrimination.  Everyone in York County should know what it is and be able to easily lodge a complaint they can have confidence will be investigated immediately.