Human Rights Task Force to host historian, show documentary

The BCHRTF invites the public to join us at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at The Pearl Theater in celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day as we consider human rights issues close to home and enjoy music by local musicians and art displays by local students.

We will be viewing “The Color of Conscience.” This Idaho Public Television documentary chronicles the formation of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations to confront the hateful message and activities of the Aryan Nation, a white-supremacist/neo-Nazi group. The documentary uses archival footage and interviews with human rights leaders and hate crime victims, and also address current human rights issues.

Our guest speaker, historian and author Robert Singletary, retired after 40 years of teaching at North Idaho College and Lewis-Clark State College in Coeur d’Alene. He serves on the board of the North Idaho Museum, offers a free lecture series at the CDA library, and leads “Living History Walking Tours” at Fort Sherman. He is the author of the “Kootenai Chronicles: A History of Kootenai County” and wrote a history column for CDA’s local newspaper for 10 years.

Understanding our past gives us insight into our present as we look to the future.

We hope you will join us for an afternoon to learn about human rights issues in our own backyard, and to support local artists, as we honor and celebrate the message of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Admission is free and all are welcome.