HARASS: Group condemns all forms

In response to the Liningers’ letter of March 27 in The Coeur d’Alene Press, we want to assure the Liningers that we condemn and have zero tolerance for any harassment experienced by the pastors of the Coeur d’Alene Hitching Post or any harassment of Pastor Tim Remington of The Altar Church. No one should face harassment from any source because of who they are or because of their status in life.

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations has worked for 34 years to combat malicious harassment, hate crimes and discrimination. In fact, it was our organization through our attorneys that drafted and we successfully lobbied in 1983 for the passage of Idaho’s Malicious Harassment Law that makes it a felony to maliciously harass any person because of their race, color, national origin, religion or creed. This law does protect individuals based on their religion.

For years, we have worked unsuccessfully with other organizations to expand Idaho’s malicious harassment law to provide protection to other victims of harassment such as the LGBT community.

It is also our position that all Idahoans should be free from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

We have been major players with other groups in the state for the successful passage of several laws and in some cases we drafted the bills that protect Idahoans against harassment and hate crimes. Today Idaho’s laws to protect persons from victimization include Idaho’s Malicious Harassment Law, Idaho’s Domestic Terrorist Control Act, Idaho’s Bias (Uniform) Crime Reporting Act, Idaho’s Explosive Devices Law, Idaho’s Common Law Courts Act, Idaho’s False Lien Law and Idaho’s Verbal Assault Law.

Our organization was founded in 1981 with its primary function to protect individuals from malicious harassment and hate crimes.

As we had been the initiator of the proposed City of Coeur d’Alene LGBT Anti-Discrimination Ordinance in 2013, on Oct. 23, 2014, we issued an open letter to the Coeur d’Alene Mayor and City Council that it was our opinion that The Coeur d’Alene Hitching Post was exempted from performing same sex marriages under the religious exemption provision of the ordinance. The city came to the same conclusion.

Our victim support committee investigates complaints of malicious harassment and or hate crimes and can be reached at (208) 765-5504 or 765-3932 or with Sgt. Christie Wood at the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

CHRISTIE WOOD, president

TONY STEWART, secretary

KCTFHR