It is time to put words into action – love over hate

Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote — “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?” — points to us first as individuals, then our homes, neighborhoods, places of work and schools. She says, “Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” 

The recent alleged racial hate incident involving the Utah women’s basketball team while lodging in Coeur d’Alene for the NCAA Tournament in Spokane put Idaho back in the national spotlight. Reaction condemning the alleged incidents of hate and discrimination came swiftly from individuals, community and civic leaders, and elected officials. The Boundary County Human Rights Task Force thanks and stands with citizens across Idaho who speak out for respect, love and compassion and work to make our communities a welcoming, safe place.

Governor Little made a strong statement that Idaho rejects racism in all forms and there is no place for racism, hate or bigotry in the state of Idaho. The Governor’s statement that leaders at all levels have rejected racism was put to a challenge when the Idaho Senate State Affairs committee debated Senate Concurrent Resolution 135 Denouncing Racism and Hate Speech, specifically naming the Utah women’s racist experience and a commitment to eradicate prejudice in Idaho. 

The resolution states “inciting genuine fear in an attempt to intimidate a person jeopardizes their health and safety and… is not protected speech.” While the resolution passed with a resounding 33-1, this does not tell the whole story. Several of the legislators debated against the resolution as reported in the March 28th Idaho Press article “Putting the cart before the horse: Senators question labeling Coeur d’Alene incidents as racist”. The article quoted one legislator saying while he supported the resolution he would not apologize and “felt compelled to stress we as a state have nothing to apologize for to anyone.” Others said they weren’t familiar with the incident even though it made national news. One Senator went as far as to suggest it might have been a hoax, which would infer the victims were lying. 

Kootenai County NAACP president James McDay released a statement that the alleged racist incident “comes as no surprise”. A Coeur d’Alene resident of 22 years, McDay says he has endured daily experiences of racial bias, racial slurs and profiling and does not feel safe in his community. This alarming statement should give us pause to think what it might be like to walk in the shoes of James McDay and the women on the Utah basketball team who were shaken by the ugly threats of hate towards them by strangers simply because of their skin color. 

We are heartened by the Governor’s statement and the actions of the Idaho Senate members who stood up for our shared values of respect, love and compassion. Senate Concurrent Resolution 135 states “to positively affect change, Idaho’s leaders must do more than issue public statements denouncing racist acts after they occur… whereas people of color who are citizens of Idaho or who visit Idaho do not always feel safe and all people, regardless of race, deserve to feel safe in Idaho.” 

The Senate resolution concludes with a commitment “to eradicate the conditions that allow racial animus and undue prejudice to persist in Idaho.” Majority leader Abby Lee said, “We happen to have a timely opportunity to say this loudly as a body, as a formal action. This resolution is not just a press release.”

To affect real change, these words need to be repeated often and put into actions that will ensure human rights and civil rights for all people. Everyone without exception, whether citizen or visitor, deserves to feel safe and free from hate in Idaho. Elected officials have the opportunity and responsibility to reject supremacy in any form by supporting legislation that ensures all people are represented and protected.

Eleanor Roosevelt said it is not enough to talk about peace, we must believe it and work on it. By standing together in solidarity we can work to eradicate hate and bigotry in the great state of Idaho.