Task force perseveres in challenging hate

By Tony Stewart

Civil rights leader Cheryl Brown Henderson recently told the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFHR) that public education is the cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law.

At its 25th annual human rights banquet on Sept. 28 in Coeur d'Alene, the task force also presented civil rights awards and raised funds for minority student scholarships at North Idaho College in partnership with the North Idaho College Foundation.

Cheryl is the daughter of the lead plaintiff, the Rev. Oliver Brown, in the United States Supreme Court landmark case "Brown v. Board of Education" (1954) ending legalized segregation in America's public schools. Oliver and 12 other parents in Topeka, Kansas, were joined with cases from Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

In 1988, Cheryl founded the Brown Foundation, which provides student scholarships, presents awards to leaders, establishes libraries for children in low-income communities and many more functions.

Her address traced the history of racial discrimination in the United States and pointed out her concerns on recent acts to attack public education, such as banning books and efforts to remove teaching in the classroom of diversity, equality, equity, inclusion and social justice. Her words drew a standing ovation.

The KCTFHR presented its 25th annual civil rights award to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe for its long history of supporting equality and justice for all people, as well as its major financial gifts to so many individuals and groups in the region. The Tribe employs more than 1,700 individuals, adding more than $330 million to Idaho's economy each year.

In accepting the award, Chairman Chief J. Allan shared with the audience how the Coeur d'Alene Tribe has historically faced vicious discrimination, including being labeled as savages. Its members were not granted American citizenship until 1924, although the Coeur d'Alene people were here for centuries before white settlers came.

Scott Kennedy, the KCTFHR treasurer, received the annual KCTFHR Bill Wassmuth Memorial Volunteer-of-the-Year Award. He has volunteered many years with the task force.

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations is in its 44th year as a human rights organization promoting human rights, while combating discrimination, malicious harassment and hate crimes.

It works across America helping communities combat hate in their communities.

For 40 years, task force members have traveled across the United States from coast to coast, visiting communities, cities, colleges, universities, places of worship, chambers, businesses and community events.

To tell the story of the KCTFHR, in 2020, Kristine Hoover, who was then director of Gonzaga University Institute for the Study of Hate, reviewed data and written materials (in my files as one of the founders). She wrote a book called "Countering Hate: Leaderships Cases for Nonviolent Action," published by Kendall Hunt Publishing.

She included reports on the task force work with several communities around the U.S.

Individual chapters discuss our work in various communities, which include three cities in Idaho, Pulaski, Tenn., Sanders County, Mont., Asheville, N.C., John Day, Ore., Grand Forks, N.D., Stevens County, Wash., and multiple cities in Wyoming and Pennsylvania.

In addition, to promote opportunities for minority students, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations also offers minority student scholarships at North Idaho College (NIC). Each year, it gives $4,000 and NIC Foundation adds $4,000 for a total of $8,000 given to two women and two men minority students selected by NIC. The two women's scholarships are named for former Idaho State Senator Mary Lou Reed and the two men's scholarships are named for the late Idaho Governor Phil Batt.

As of 2024, the KCTFHR has given a total of 116 scholarships.

The present board includes three young people: a recent graduate of Gonzaga University Law school, a young businessman in San Diego, Calif., and an employee of Verizon in Seattle. The other board members range in age from their early 40s up.

The KCTFHR, which was founded in February 1981, has no employees. Its board makes all the decisions.

For information, call 208-765-3932 or visit idahohumanrights.org.