The Rights Stuff Newsletter

A joint meeting of the Bonner, Kootenai, Boundary Task Forces, with representatives from the Colville, Pullman Washington and eastern Montana groups invited, will be held Saturday, March 21 in Rathdrum at the Senior Citizens Center. The doors will open at 8:30 AM for coffee and doughnuts with the program beginning at 9:00.

The morning will kick off with a round robin discussion of each organization's activities. Those attending will be asked to speak of concerns and activities in their areas, with an aim to better coordinating our efforts, sharing information and lending support. Lunch, always an important topic, will be provided by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

The afternoon session will be very interesting. It is a presentation by University of Idaho Law School professor Elizabeth Brandt, who will speak on the First Amendment of the Constitution. Many of us will remember that Professor Brandt gave a very enlightening presentation about the proposed Proposition 1 in 1994.

Concurrent to the First Amendment presentation, there will be a student session to allow youth activists to network. The day's meeting will end by 3:00 PM.

The Rathdrum Senior Citizen's Center is located on Highway 41 at Montana Avenue in Rathdrum. If you would like to carpool, call 263-0275.

Please call (208)772-3953 by March 19 if you plan to attend.

Most are aware of the announced plans of the Aryan Nations to march in the streets of Coeur d'Alene (originally on April 18, now in July) in honor of Adolf Hitler's birthday. Although this is exceedingly repugnant in the light of the millions murdered in the Holocaust and the soldiers who died defeating Nazi Germany, it is an exercise of free speech.

After much discussion and soul-searching, the Kootenai County Task Force, with the support of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, has decided "the best way to deal with a lemon is to make lemonade."

Human rights groups and individuals are asked to join with them in gathering pledges to fund human rights education and activities for every minute that the Aryans march.

Since the parade is postponed, if you would like to go on and contribute to the work of the Task Force or the Northwest Coalition, you might keep in mind that the parade would probably last 45 minutes.

This has been deemed a more appropriate response than any kind of counter-demonstration that would just call more attention to the Aryan Nations and hold the potential for sparking violence.
The local police in Coeur d'Alene have asked that, if possible, no other major activities be planned for that area on the same day as the march as they would be spread too thin. They were particularly concerned about groups coming in from outside the area.

Should the parade look like it is going to take place in July, you will receive a pledge sheet. Meanwhile, your donation would be most welcome!

The Rights Stuff newsletter is published approximately quarterly. Several people work together to get the newsletter to your mailbox. We are looking for some help. If you can collate and fold, then you are qualified! Please consider this simple - but very important - task to help get the word out. Call the Task Force line (263-0275) if you are willing to help.

Winners have been selected in the contest to come up with a positive slogan in support of human rights. The winners are: Two entries tied for First Place-Steven Hammond, Sandpoint Middle School, Second Place-Angie Pizzolato, and Third Place-Dana Libby, both of Sandpoint High School. A mockup of the first of the designs to be produced will be shown at the Regional meeting on March 21. It is our goal to have our new bumper stickers ready for the motorcade and rally on April 18.

To give expression to our beliefs, there will be a motorcade of cars on April 18, beginning in Post Falls at the Factory Outlet Stores and ending in Spokane. The cars will sport lemonade colored ribbons and human rights slogans. The motorcade will begin at 8:30 AM and will end in Spokane with speeches and entertainment.

Originally intended to occur during the Aryan Nations Parade, let's use this occasion to spread the message that hate and a total disregard for the welfare of the community will not be tolerated!

Other activities for that weekend include a 2:00 PM Interfaith Service at St. Pius in Cour d'Alene on April 19. Also on April 19 at Temple Beth Shalom in Spokane, there will be a Holocaust Remembrance at 7:00 PM. Get there early if you want to have a seat.

On Monday, April 13, there will be a banquet with Governor Batt in Coeur d'Alene. Call 772-3953 to reserve a seat; tables are filling up quickly.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. day, the Human Rights Task Force joined with the Sandpoint High School and Middle School clubs to sponsor an open-mic evening. About 40 people attended the event at Connie's Conference Center, where stories, art, poetry, and songs about human rights were shared. The evening ended with a simple but meaningful candlelight ceremony signifying the light we all can share in the world. Chuck Smith of VideoSmith taped the event, which was then shown on local cable television for several days.

"Echoes of Africa", an African Cultural Exhibit is now open until the end of March at the Bonner Mall. Created by Tina Freidman, and sponsored in part by the Task Force, the exhibit includes a village mock-up, a display room of arts and crafts, and a room showing the contributions of African Americans to our culture.

The village is a re-creation of the village of Siachilaba in Northern Zimbabwe. Students from the SHS Human Rights Club worked to construct the village.

Hours of operation are Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is $2.00, with proceeds going to the children of the village.

On March 27, at 6:00 PM there will be a program of African drumming and dances. On March 29, Bob Bartlett, Director of Cultural Affairs at Gonzaga will speak at 2:00, followed by the Bethel AME Gospel choir at 3:30. Admission to this special program is $5.00. Call 263-4890 or 263-3612 for info.

Sandpoint Middle School is hosting their first Artist in Residence for two weeks beginning April 18. Thomas Warfield of Rochester, New York is founder of Peace Art.

While in Sandpoint, Mr. Warfield will meet with Language Arts, Art, and physical education classes at the Middle School. His residency will provide activities reflecting African-American history in dance, music, poetry, and art.

Congratulations to Linda Navarre and all the others who helped to put together the successful grant from the Idaho Commission on the Arts! The grant is a "matching funds" grant. Anyone wishing to assist in the match side should contact 265-4169.

African Culture Exhibit open to public

The Middle School human rights club, HOPE, has been active since the last newsletter.
The club recently held an silent auction to raise money for the upcoming Artist in Residence program. They sold a mug, T-shirt, notecards, and hats.

In addition, several of the club members were able to meet with the Sibikwa Players.
The club continues to meet weekly with about 30 members showing up for the meetings.

The Sandpoint High School club members have been busy with activities since the last newsletter.
Tammy Moiekeha and Lela Lucht reported that the club plans a second annual Play Day in April. Like last year,, the day will provide activities and games for people who are disabled.

In addition, a Culture Day is planned at the school. On Culture Day, the various high school clubs are encouraged to represent different cultures. They may set up booths and sell items or food from that culture to raise money for their clubs.

A Martin Luther King, Jr. program was presented at the high school. Included in the program was the Sandpoint High School chorus singing "We Shall Overcome," the band playing a piece while Nicole Kendrot read a poem about Martin Luther King, Jr. Masai Jones spoke to both assemblies of students. The program ended with the playing of part of King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
In addition to this program, the club helped to sponsor the open-mic night at Connie's (see previous page.)

Members of the club recently worked very hard to design and construct the African Village at the African Culture exhibit at the Bonner Mall. This was an intensive effort involving many people and several weeks.

Ten of the club members were able to meet with the Sibikwa Players, which was a valued experience.

"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."

Martin Luther King
"Letter from Birmingham Jail"

"Again we decry the color prejudice ...yet it remains a heavy fact. Such curious kinks of the human mind exist and must be reckoned with soberly. They cannot be laughed away, nor always successfully stormed at, nor easily abolished by act of legislature. And yet they cannot be encouraged by being let alone. They must be recognized as facts, but unpleasant facts; things that stand in the way of civilization and religion and common decency. They can be met in but one way: by the breadth and broadening of human reason, by catholicity of taste and culture."

W. E. B. Du Bois, 1902

Eric Ward, community organizer with the Northwest Coalition, came to Sandpoint on Feb. 13 to meet with the middle school and high school human rights clubs - who hold meetings during their lunch time, and to meet with the BCHRTF Board and other human rights activists from the community, including Mayor David Sawyer.

With his unique ability to build rapport and create excitement, Eric's meeting with the youth sparked a number of ideas for activities including a Poetry for Peace contest, a mural, and peer activities with elementary students on conflict resolution.

The evening meeting was a time to talk about purpose and direction for the Task Force. There was a great deal of discussion about what kinds of activities are most consistent with our mission statement. It was a rare opportunity to share, to listen to each other and develop perspective for the coming year.

March 21- Meeting with regional human rights groups, in Rathdrum.
Continuing through March - African Culture Exhibit at the Bonner Mall
Continuing - "Lemonade" fundraiser. Send your donations!
April 11 - Multicultural Dance at Lakeland HS - 5 - 8 PM with live bands. Area youth invited to attend.
April 13 - at Coeur d'Alene Inn, there will be a banquet with the theme of "Celebrating
Idaho's Ethnic & Religious Heritage." Governor Batt will be the featured speaker.
April 18 - Human rights motorcade from Post Falls to Spokane
April 19 - Inter-Faith program - 2 PM - St.Pius Church in Coeur d'Alene.
April 19 - Temple Beth Shalom in Spokane will host their annual service commemorating Holocaust victims. Time is 7:00 PM, and those wishing to attend are advised to be there early, as it is usually filled to capacity.

Congratulations are in order for the Pend Oreille Arts Council, which sponsored the South African Sibikwa Players to come to Sandpoint on February 20.

The players are from South Africa, where they work to develop educationally disadvantaged youth who are dealing with socio-political strife, excessive violence and deprivation.

While in Sandpoint, the players provided three free concerts for over 1500 high school and middle school students in Bonner County. They also spoke to high school students about the effects of apartheid. They gave a free dancing and drumming workshop for teens and adults.

In addition, POAC provided the opportunity for 15 members of the middle school and Sandpoint High school clubs to share dinner with the players.

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:


March, 1998
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