The Task Force is participating in an exciting event on Sunday, July 21. It is a celebration with other human rights groups in North Idaho - a chance to share goals and visions, food and camaraderie with fellow workers in the region. The event is scheduled for 12:30-2:30PM at the Lake City Senior Center in Coeur d'Alene.

The festivities will begin with a spaghetti luncheon. The cost of the meal is $4.00, with $1.00 of the fee going to help African American churches which have been burned.

Representatives from each group present will talk a little about their activities and concerns. Literature and promotional materials from each organization will be available.

"This is a great way for us to get together," said Skip Kuck, Task Force Board member. "It gives us the opportunity to meet some really neat people and celebrate our common goals. Task Force members and their families are strongly encouraged to attend and make new friends!"

One of the activities of the day will be to decorate a tree with signed personal messages regarding human rights. All of us are encouraged to sign a message and send or bring the message in. The content can be as concise and simple as "I support human rights for all people. (signature)" If you will not be present, but would like your message placed on the tree, please mail it to: Skip Kuck E 2038 Avon Circle; Hayden Lake, ID 83835. The Lake City Senior Center is located at 1916 Lakewood Drive, just off of Northwest Boulevard. For directions, call the Task Force line: 263-0275.

Now that summer is finally here, it's hard to think about early fall activities. But, the Bonner County Fair is coming August 21-24 and the Task Force needs volunteers to help. The theme for the fair this year is "Autumn leaves and harvest sheaves." Do you have an idea for our booth? Can you help set it up, take it down, or put in a few hours during the fair? If so, please call the Task Force line at 263-0275.

One thing we can all do is support organizations which are working to stop this heinous wave of violence. On April 2, the Task Force Board sent a $100 donation to the Center for Democratic Renewal to help them in their work on this situation.; The Center is a national clearinghouse of information on white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and other hate organizations and activities. It is involved in community development for non-violent opposition to organized hate activities and groups, movements and government practices that promote hatred and bigotry.; If you would like to contribute directly, send your donation to: Center for Democratic Renewal; P O Box 50469; Atlanta, GA 30302

Nicole Baran was this year's recipient of the Task Force's "Stone of Hope" award. Along with her name on an ongoing plaque, she received a $100 scholarship which she will use at Stanford University. Nicole has served on the Task Force board for two years, and was president of the high school's human rights club this past year.

The tenth annual Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment conference is set for Spokane, October 18-20. This promises to be an extraordinary event with inspiring keynote speakers and great workshops. As with all the NWCAMH conferences, there are just too many workshops from which to choose!

Youth Summit -- On Oct. 18 there will be an all-day Youth Summit focusing on the media, educational system, legal system, and community/family. Issues of racial tension, power, segregation, discrimination, bias crimes/harassment and stereotyping in these systems will be addressed.

The Second Civil War: States Rights and the Power of the County -- This Oct. 18 symposium will address the role states rights, sovereignty and county movements play within the political landscape of the American far-right. Special attention is given to organizing strategies and tactics for confronting and resisting these anti-democratic and bigoted movements.

Rock Against Bigotry -- Oct. 18, 8:30-11:00pm; This is an event where youth can groove to great live music and also recognize the importance of music and community in creating a positive barrier against hate.

Anti-Racism Institute -- Running from 10:00am Oct. 19 to noon on Oct. 20, this interactive workshop will look at institutional racism from the perspective ofhistory and culture. It will examine contemporary white supremacist activity within this historical and cultural context. Participants can expect to explore how they have been affected by racism, and what they can start doing about it. The workshop will feature exercises, discussion, and a problem-solving approach.

• Anti-Bias Curriculum: The Options
• Anti-Immigration and the History of Xenophobia in America
• Broken Treaties: Anti-Indian Racism in the U.S.
• Building for the Long Term: Fundraising and Financial Stability
• Classism and Its Impact on Bigotry
• Confronting Hate on Campus
• Critical Thinking and Discourse: Countering Misinformation
• Harassment, Threats and Intimidation: A Healthy Response
• Hate Crimes: Clinical Issues for Victims and Perpetrators
• High Tech and Bigotry
• Homophobia and the Politics of Fear
• The Longest Hatred: Understanding Anti-Semitism
• Read All About It: The Newsletter in the 90's
• Safe Schools: Stopping Gay/Lesbian Violence in the Schools
• Staying Uncomfortable: A New Look at Coalition Building
• The Christian Patriot Movement
• Bartering with Liberty: Liens and Intimidation
• Christian Patriotism and the Abuse of Christianity
• Constitutionalist Groups Misrepresent Both Fact and Law
• The Expanding Circle: The Mainstreaming of White Supremacy
• Genesis and White Supremacy
• Guns and Gavels: Common Law Courts, Militias and White Supremacy
• Itís War: Clinic Violence in the Northwest
• Looking North: Canadaís Far Right Movement
• Power of the County: A Look at Wise Use and Far Right Collaborations
• The Pseudo-Jurisprudence World of Christian Patriotism
• Radical Roots: The Posse Comitatus and the Militia Movement
• Racist Image: Bad for Business
• Rural and Urban Legends: A Look at Right-Wing Myths
• The Second Amendment: The Right to Bear Militias?
• A Snapshot: An Individual Believer
• Three Strikes: The Catron County Movement Is Out
• The Walls Come Tumbling Down: The Rise of Neo-Nazism in Germany
• When Militias Come to Town
• Will the Real Constitution Please Stand Up
• Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: Freemen and the Threat to Democracy

Dr. Robert Jeffrey, Sr.: Equal Access: The Real Freedom of the Constitution. Dr. Jeffrey is pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Seattle. He had been deeply involved in the civil rights struggle.

Lee Mun Wah: Confronting Racism: A Transformative Catalyst for Change. Lee Mun Wah, director and producer of The Color of Fear, is a Chinese American community therapist practicing in Oakland, CA.

Morris Dees: False Patriots: The Threat of Anti-Government Extremists. Morris Dees is the Chief Trial Counsel of the Southern Poverty Law Center. During the last 17 years, SPLC lawsuits have resulted in crippling judgment against some of the nation's most dangerous white supremacist organizations.

NWC members/Associate Members: $45
Student: $30
Non-Member: $60; (It makes sense to join the NWCAMH!)
Registration after Oct. 5, add $10

There are other fee schedules for just keynote speeches, youth conference, meals.

For more information call the Task Force line: 263-0275 Inquire by mail.

Congratulations to the Sandpoint High School and Middle School human rights clubs who capped off their year with activities and enthusiasm. Linda Navarre reports that the Middle School club has met with great success with their buttons. They are going to branch into T-shirt design this next school year.

Dan Vanek reports that the high school club went to Coeur d'Alene recently to hear a speech by a survivor of the Holocaust. Also, the high school club has been encouraging teachers to post a sign in their classroom if they indeed support tolerance. The students must be pretty convincing: Dan Vanek reports that 95% of the teachers has posted the sign reading:

"I believe in the inviolable dignity of each human being and oppose discrimination, harassment and derogatory

language (including jokes) regarding race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and physical appearance

-- occurrences of this sort will not be tolerated within the classroom setting."

Our Neighbor Support Committee reports that we have handled three cases of racial prejudice or harassment from November '95 to March '96, and one case of sexual harassment. Let's work to put this committee out of business!

The Task Force has lost two board members recently due to moves out of the area. Vice President Claire Lavendel received a promotion which takes her to Vancouver, Washington. Margaret Simpson, chair of the Neighbor Support Committee, is moving to Oregon. We will miss both of our friends - they have been an inspiration and great co-workers.

Chuck Smith has been elected as Vice President. New members on the board are Barbara Veraniam, who will chair the Neighbor Support Committee, and Masai Jones. Congratulations, Chuck, and welcome, Barbara and Masai!

The Rights Stuff is published "occasionally" by the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force. Helping with this issue were: Jane Clark, Brenda

Hammond, Jeanette Lucas, Lela Lucht, Tammy Moikeha, Donna Parrish. The Task Force can be reached at 208-263-0275 and e-mail:

bchrtf@dmi.net

"We have torn down the [racial] barriers in our laws. Now we must break down the barriers in our lives, our minds, and our hearts."

-- Bill Clinton, in his speech beginning a "year long initiative" to determine how best to deal with historic racial rifts in our society.