Editorial hurtful, off target

It is sadness, loneness and isolation that I feel as I write this response to Sunday's Coeur d'Alene Press editorial regarding the HREI and KCTFHR. In my 41 years in Idaho and Coeur d'Alene, I cannot recall an instance in which I publically criticized the Coeur d'Alene Press but on numerous occasions at press conferences and other public venues thanked and praised the newspaper for their support of our human rights work as well as their coverage of such programs as the NIC Popcorn Forum. But on a far more important level, I am heartbroken at the possible damage this editorial could do to our constant struggle to eradicate prejudice and bigotry as well as hinder our work in preventing the ongoing problem of hate crimes as we serve as allies to the victims. It is with no anger or retribution that I share with all of you my grief over the setback this editorial could do to the advancement of human rights. I know from a lifetime of commitment to this cause that the peddlers of hate would like nothing better than to have human rights organizations and activists become silent. As long as God gives me the strength to be active, I will not remain silent. Today I did a silent prayer asking God to give me the strength, wisdom and kindness in making the proper response. I find no examples in history that silence resulted in a victory over the forces of prejudice, bigotry or the eradication of hate. The conservative columnist for the Washington Post, Kathleen Parker, stated it most eloquently in her column when she wrote: "When you choose to remain silent, consider yourself complicit in whatever transpires."

I humbly submit the following points in support of our decades of work for promoting a world that embraces the respect and dignity for all humanity. First, on behalf of the KCTFHR, I have had the pleasure of working with my friend Jerry Jaeger, president of Hagadone Hospitalities, to recruit conferences to Coeur d'Alene featuring very diverse delegates. Over and over some minority members of those conferences opposed coming to Coeur d'Alene; yet, Jerry and I used the work of the Task Force to persuade the reluctant delegates to attend. This editorial makes our task more difficult in the future. Second, Dennis Wheeler, my friend of 40 years, and I have been discussing a media campaign to promote the merits of diversity for our community.

Third, we just recently had a very positive news story about the increase in the growth of minorities in the Inland Northwest and the state of Idaho based on the recent U.S. Census data. The regional support for human rights work is one of the contributing factors in this good news. Fourth, during the last 13 years, the KCTFHR has raised over $140,000 for HREI at our annual human rights banquets. This sum does not include the many dollars in cash and in-kind to HREI by Task Force board members over the years.

Fifth, the KCTFHR established HREI in 1998 for the purpose of expanding the educational offerings in the area of human rights. Few people are aware that Greg Carr in 2001 personally contacted Tony Stewart to discuss several major financial contributions to promote human rights in our region including the purchase of the former Aryan Nations' compound turning it into a Peace Park. Carr also through the good offices of Tony Stewart pledged $1,000,000 to HREI. The Carr gifts also included $20,000 to The University of Idaho for a lecture series honoring Bill Wassmuth. And finally, Carr donated the beautiful marble structure that graces the grounds of the HREI Center. Greg Carr, the KCTFHR and the HREI announced those gifts at a press conference held at NIC in 2001. Sixth, the KCTFHR continues to promote human rights through educational projects. For example, the Task Force in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls school districts and North Idaho College have sponsored the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fifth Grade Students' Program for the past 26 years. We have had 32,500 children through the program. Years later many of the former 5th grade students, who went through the program, have shared touching stories with us about their positive experiences in celebrating human rights

Seventh, in the not too distant past, the staff at HREI discovered a Swastika on the door of the Center. It was the KCTFHR that met immediately with the police to pursue the issue. Also Tony Stewart on several occasions escorted Rachel Dolezal, the former HREI Director of Education, to her home when she was harassed by the neo-Nazis. Eighth, unfortunately, we must face the fact that hate activity is a reality around the world including our region. In 2009, we documented nine hate crimes in the Inland Northwest along with the spreading of hate literature in many neighborhoods. What did the Task Force do? We organized a press conference at the Idaho/Washington border with many law enforcement, city mayors and council members, and the police of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. We sent a message that these crimes would not be tolerated.

Ninth, in 2010 there were five incidents effecting students' safety on the NIC campus. The KCTFHR Executive Committee met in a private session with the leading administrators to share our expertise Tenth, this year we have witnessed neo-Nazi demonstrations and in one case a destruction of property at Taco Stands in Coeur d'Alene. Again the Task Force was there to support the victims.

Eleventh, let us not forget the planting of a deadly bomb in Spokane prior to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. march on Jan. 17, 2011. The KCTFHR was asked to attend two meetings in Spokane to discuss the problem. I hope the Coeur d'Alene Press editorial is not suggesting that the Task Force activism encouraged that perpetrator's actions. Twelfth, we are presently working on two troubling incidents that involve an African American victim and an American Indian victim

Thirteenth, during the past two years, HREI sponsored a two-year series titled "Fast Forward: Globalization and Human Rights." The series was broken into four six-month quarters. One of the KCTFHR Board members coordinated two of those four quarters and was successful in acquiring a $4,500 grant from the Idaho Humanities Council for the HREI series. Fourteenth, The Coeur d'Alene Press editorial seems to suggest that if the Task Force would remain silent or just go away then the neo-Nazi's would just disappear. We have heard that argument for 30 years and even while the Aryan Nations were active at the compound.

Fifteenth, I cannot express the depth of my hurt for the Task Force when I read these words in the editorial: "Constantly reliving the rise and fall of Butler's pathetic little empire does more than keep the past alive and gives it ever greater significance in the annals of North Idaho; it reopens wounds among a compassionate populace. 'And it provides parasitic modern-day racists with the attention they must have to survive' " ( ' italics added). The recent Tankovich Brothers' Trial and conviction ought to be a reminder of the challenges that still exist. I cannot believe anyone can seriously suggest that the work of the Task Force was responsible for that racial incident. Sixteenth, The Coeur d'Alene Press editorial seems to suggest that the Task Force work is in the past and if we would just become silent all would be fine. I interpreted the editorial to suggest that the Task Force is no longer relevant and we should leave all matters to our wonderful sister organization, HREI. Both HREI and the KCTFHR are badly needed.

Seventeenth, sadly, the editorial fails to mention that when the Westboro Baptist Church brought their message of hate to the Inland Northwest and NIC in particular, it was the Task Force that organized the very successful unity rally at the HREI Center. Should we have been silent as the WBC held signs thanking God for killing our courageous soldiers, thanking God for breast cancer and the targeting of the LGBT community? How could one ever be apathetic or silent when such hate ascends on our wonderful community? Eighteenth, Task Force board members travel often at their own expenses across America to share the true story of the goodness and kindness of Idahoans. And yes we share the story of our people's victory over the forces of hate.

Nineteenth, in today's Spokesman Review, Vincent Bertollini, the former leader of the 11th Hour Remnant in Sandpoint, Idaho, who recently completed a prison term in New Mexico, was quoted as saying that his greatest mistake was moving to North Idaho, where he encountered stiff resistance from human rights activists. Twentieth, I also grieve over the possible demoralizing effect this editorial could have on our region's victims. Does the editorial send the message that we must not speak openly in support of the victims as the Task Force often rallies public support for the victims as we did for the Keenans

Twenty-One, We should not forget the neo-Nazi threats on the lives of some of the KCTFHR board members in earlier years and the use of a bomb in the attempt to kill Bill Wassmuth, the Task Force president at the time. This violence did not silence Father Bill. Twenty-Two, The people of the city of Coeur d'Alene have been nationally recognized and honored for their support of human rights. First, the Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United Sates bestowed its prestigious award on the city several years ago. Second, one of the major reasons for the City of Coeur d'Alene being chosen as the first city in Idaho to receive the "All American City Award" in 1990 was due to the people's support of human rights.

Let me conclude this statement the same way I begin. I never dreamed the day would come when we would feel such abandonment by an organization that has been very supportive, our friends and whose support is so important to our work. My mind races to the experience we had in 2010 in John Day, Oregon. It was the publisher and editor of their local newspaper, "The Blue Mountain Eagle", that not only invited us to their beautiful county to rally support in opposition to the neo-Nazis but the paper led the very successful vocal outcry to counter the peddlers of hate who were trying to relocate to their beautiful region. I did shed tears today that the Task Force may not have the support from our local newspaper in the future. It has been a very sad day for me as well as our human rights supporters.