The Peace Run is coming to Bonner County on Tuesday, July 1. There will be a brief welcoming ceremony at Farmin Park at 9:20 AM.

As the largest public event of its kind, the Peace Run is a 51,000 mile event taking place in 70 nations, including an 11,000 mile contiguous route in the USA with visits to all 50 states.

The idea behind the Peace Run is simple: world peace begins with each individual's quest for peace. If people from all nations can run side by side in harmony, then it is but a small step for all peoples to live together in harmony.

The run does not seek to raise money or promote any political cause, but only to create good will among people and nations.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors has endorsed the Peace Run, and has approved a resolution that calls on mayors and other leaders to make every possible effort to foster an atmosphere in their cities which prevents hate crimes from occurring. Sandpoint's Mayor David Sawyer will be present at the Farmin Park gathering, and he will carry the torch for a while.

More information about the Peace Run, including supporters, runners, daily pictures and reports, can be found on the Internet at http://www.peacerun.com.

Anyone interested in carrying the torch on its way to Hope is invited to show up in running togs at the Farmin Park ceremony. Everyone is invited to come, hold the torch, and cheer the runners.

The Task Force will participate in this year's Fourth of July parade in Sandpoint, and you are urged to be a part of it.

The theme of our entry will be "Liberty and justice for all." That theme will be shown in banners, printed in languages that people in this area know or speak.

There will be a float which will hopefully be accompanied by you and as many friends as you can find to accompany you!

Task Force T-shirts will be available at cost ($8.00) for anyone who wants to buy one and wear it in the parade.

Katie Akers is heading up this effort. She asks that anyone who can help with the set up on July 3, please come to the corner of Fifth and Church (the old Cenex) at 3:00 PM. If you can offer a language translation, please call her at 263-6551.

If you can march in the parade, come by Fifth and Church on July 4 at 9:30 to find out where the Task Force entry is lining up.

If you have any questions, please call Katie at 263-6551.

A report from the Sandpoint High School Human Rights Task Force

Megan Collins got the idea from Gonzaga University and shared it with the Club. We all thought it was a great thing to do so we started planning.

First we set a date (May 28) and invited all the other clubs to join. Those who wanted to participate chose a country to represent. They then organized their club members and made food from their specific country. The countries varied from Lithuania to France to China.

On the 28th of May the Human Rights Task Force members passed out rainbow ribbons symbolizing equality. The majority of students and teachers chose to wear them and were proud of it.

Also many of the students and teachers dressed up as a different culture, not necessarily their own.

The club members set up tables and booths outside using decorations depicting their chosen countries. At lunch, students bought food from the booths and were entertained by belly dancing and cultural music.

We feel as a club that this event turned out successful. Our purpose was to celebrate diversity and bring it into our school.

Submitted by Lela Lucht and Tammy Moikeha.

On March 4, two Holocaust survivors spoke to a hushed Community Center audience about their experiences. Over two hundred people were seated and standing to hear Bronia Sonnenschein and Robbie Waisman tell their stories.

Robbie was a young boy of 8 when he was moved to the ghetto. His older brother protected him and stuffed cardboard in Robbie's shoes to make him appear older so that his life would be saved for labor. Robbie spoke movingly of watching his ill brother be pulled out of a line up and placed on a truck, never to return. He told of occasionally getting a glimpse of his father as work shifts at the camp changed. One day, that glimpse was his last one.

When his camp was liberated, the first soldier Robbie saw was an African American. He was full of wonder at the foreign soldier in a skin color he had never seen before, who had come to save him. Robbie and that soldier have kept in touch: Robbie showed a videotape of their recent meeting. The soldier went on to become a high school teacher who tells his classes about his experiences as a liberator.

Bronia's story includes how she and her sister and mother stayed together by not revealing their kinship to the Nazis. Her commitment to stand and speak long hours to eager listeners came from a promise to her family. "We made a promise to each other: If any of us come out alive, we have to tell the world. It took me forty years to keep that promise. I had to put my life in order."

Bronia spoke of the separation of people by age and watching her grandparents and young children be placed in doomed trucks. She spoke of the day to day indignities that they all suffered, and of the small kindnesses of strangers.

On March 5, the speakers told their experiences to area high school seniors at the Panida Theater. The reception was similar to the night before: one student marveled at how quiet the entire assembly was.

Both Bronia and Robbie were touched by the warmth and acceptance they found in North Idaho. They had been told by others not even to come to this area. Bronia wrote recently to say that she has the occasion to speak in many places and everywhere she goes, she is telling people what wonderful people live in North Idaho.

The presentation was sponsored by the Canadian Jewish Congress. Thanks to Nancy Renk and Megan Collins who organized the presentations. Also, thanks to Chuck Smith, who taped the events and arranged for them to be aired on the local cable channel.

It is not too soon to look forward to the Bonner County Fair. The Task Force is planning a booth which will hopefully continue the blue-ribbon tradition it has established.

This year's fair is scheduled for August 21 through 23. The theme is "Old Times and Country Rhymes."

If you are interested in setting up the booth, or in spending some time there, please call the Task Force phone: 263-0275.

Congratulations to Megan Collins, who received the 1997 "Stone of Hope" award from the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force. Included with the award was a $200 scholarship, which Megan will use as she attends Pacific Lutheran this fall.

Megan has served on the Task Force Board and as president of the Sandpoint High School Task Force. She moderated a session at the Northwest Coalition's Conference last fall. She has been active in the high school club activities as well as in advising other students on how to start their own organizations.

Congratulations, Megan!

Special thanks go to Eric Ridgway, who conducted a workshop: "How to Raise Tolerant Kids." This was held on February 22 at Farmin-Stidwell School.

Those who attended found the discussions and presentation very useful. Thank you, Eric!

It its annual meeting, the Task Force elected new board members. They are: Katie Golden Akers, Gretchen Hellar, Lela Lucht, Colleen MacGregor, Tammy Moikeha, and Dan Shook. Tammy and Lela are sharing a board position as well as leadership of the Sandpoint High School Task Force. Board members re-elected to another two-year term were: Brenda Hammond, Masai Jones, Adrian Murillo, Nancy Renk, and Chuck Smith. Adrian has since moved from the area. We will miss him.

At its first meeting, the new board elected officers. They are:

President: Brenda Hammond

Vice President: Masai Jones

Secretary: Colleen MacGregor

Treasurer: Jane Clark

On April 8, Bill Wassmuth spoke to Task Force members and the general public about the importance of human rights. His topic, "Human Rights Will Win in the End: The Glass Is Half Full" was a reminder of what is important and what still needs to be done.

Bill is the Executive Director of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment. He was in the area to celebrate that organization's tenth anniversary. Congratulations to the Coalition for ten years of good work and strong leadership.

Thanks to Chris Bessler of Keokee Publishing who suggested advertising the Art for Tolerance cards on the Web. He then set up the page for the Task Force. We've received orders and compliments - Thanks, Chris!

On April 12, regional leaders and concerned citizens met in Coeur d'Alene to listen to others about existing human rights problems and to share experiences. Sponsored by the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, the gathering brought people from several states and featured speakers from Spokane and North Idaho.

About 15 people from the Task Force were present, including Mayor David Sawyer. Donna Parrish spoke as representative of the Task Force, and Jonathon Coe spoke on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce.

The Task Force needs storage space for T-shirts and other supplies. Do you have an area which could be used? If so, please call the Task Force at 263-0275.

The Art for Tolerance cards are still available. There are cards with no inscription and also cards with the holiday greeting. The holiday cards are on sale. Call 263-0275 for information.

In response to the Parade Magazine article, the Task Force received over sixty e-mails from all over the country.

Many requested information as to what could be done in their areas. Others were letters of heart warming support.

Here is a sampling of the responses:

California:"Thank you for a very fine peek into the world of sanity! Got a lot out of your article and wish to enthuse others here ..."

Kentucky: "It is almost amazing to me in this sometimes immoral society that communities can still be relied upon to come together in a time of need. It is organizations like this one that need to be modeled across the country..."

Alaska:"Thanks for setting such a positive example to the rest of society...Please continue!!"

Indiana: "Have heard and read of your area troubles, and this is good news...Keep up the good work, US needs more cities like Sandpoint."

Maryland: "I had no idea organizations such as yours existed until I read the article ...would love to see organizations such as yours spread to every community in America."

Oregon: "I think it's great when people get together and do whatever is necessary to protect the things this country stands for."

Michigan: "I was so impressed with your commitment toward fighting hate, and bringing about cultural understanding, and awareness, that I just had to write to show my support and give my thanks. People like the ones in your task force should be applauded for help making this world better. It is Americans like yourselves that gives Americans like me inspiration, because we are fighting the same battles."

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.

Don't Forget!

This summer has opportunities for you.

Remember these dates:

7/1: Peace Run

7/4: Parade

8/21-8/23: Fair

Call 263-0275 to help.

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.