A group of citizens in Snohomish County has asked the Snohomish County Council to create a Human Rights Commission that, as it states, “has the authority, and the resources, to provide equal opportunity and safety for all of the residents and visitors to Snohomish County.”

The ordinance that would establish the Commission was developed over 10 months to address issues of discrimination that had been building up throughout the county. Discussions at the regular meetings included an examination of past attempts at finding significant, effective, resolutions. They solicited advice and input from other groups in Washington State and around the country.

The ordinance was presented June 2nd, along with a letter detailing why it was needed and what it would accomplish.

Why is it Needed?

According to the letter, a series of incidents around the county uncovered anti-Immigration, anti-Native American and anti-Gay, Lesbian and Transgender sentiment in Snohomish County.

In addition, there have been a series of anti-African American incidents in the county, including a cross burning on a minister's lawn in Arlington, the flying of confederate flags at a High School in Marysville and racist graffiti and vandalism in Mill Creek.

In an article in the Everett Herald on June 3rd, reporter Jeff Switzer notes that “bias and bigotry in hiring and housing continues to be a problem for immigrants, minorities and disabled people in Snohomish County”. He quotes Luis Moscoso, a minority rights advocate with the group, Snohomish County Citizens for Human Rights, the group that presented the proposed ordinance.

"We've had 600 complaints in five years that we didn't even know about," Moscoso said. "We need to reach out and educate people on human rights issues."

What Will It Do?

The ordinance has both carrots and sticks. It is tasked to “develop and conduct educational programs designed to prevent discrimination before it occurs and to promote better relations among the County’s diverse racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and social groups.” However, it also prohibits discrimination and has enforcement provisions build into it. The ordinance as it was presented is copied at the bottom of this article.

Who Developed It?

The citizens group includes a large number of grassroots organizers in Snohomish County as well as elected officials, including John McCoy, State Representative from the 38th Legislative District, Dave Somers, Chair of the County Council as well as Mark Hintz, Chair of the Snohomish County Democratic Party.

The inclusion of many law enforcement officers, including Sheriff John Lovick, retired Sheriff Rick Bart, and former candidate for Sheriff Tom Greene as well as Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis, underscores one of the arguments for the passage of the ordinance – that implementing the Commission will build community and prevent crime.

How Did They Bring this About?

From the letter accompanying the ordinance: “the committee maintained a focus on the economic and social value of inclusion and the best possible way to insure fair representation of the diverse groups in Snohomish County and the political and economic impacts of the work the committee was doing. The work included soliciting engagement with the process from members of county leadership as well as community groups and residents of Snohomish County.”

Assistance in facilitating the meetings and writing the ordinance was provided by Dr. Jerry Hebert, a commissioner with the state human rights commission and was based on the 1949 bill that established the state Commission.

Summary

A proposed 3-person staff at the Commission would do outreach, education and dispute resolution with folks in the community. A 7-person Commission would oversee direction. The Snohomish County Citizens for Human Rights has committed to remain involved.

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The “Snohomish County Human Rights Ordinance

PROHIBITING CERTAIN FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION UNDER COUNTY CODE IN EMPLOYMENT, CREDIT TRANSACTIONS, PUBLIC ACCOMODATIONS, HOUSING, COUNTY PROGRAMS, AND CONTRACTING; ESTABLISHING THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WITH ENFORCEMENT POWER TO ENFORCE PROHIBITIONS; CREATING A NEW CHAPTER OF THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY CODE

WHEREAS, recognizing the need to combat the effects of bias and bigotry throughout Snohomish County, the Snohomish County Council desires to afford greater protection against certain forms of discrimination than is presently provided under state law, to be known as the “Snohomish County Human Rights Ordinance”; and

WHEREAS, Snohomish County desires to create a Commission on Human Rights to enforce the Snohomish County Human Rights Ordinance; and

WHEREAS, this Ordinance is designed to protect all people who live and work in the County from discrimination and sexual harassment in employment, public accommodations, housing, credit transactions, County services and County contracting.; and

WHEREAS, this Ordinance prohibits these forms of discrimination when they are based upon a persons race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or gender identity; and

WHEREAS, the Commission on Human Rights will be authorized to enforce the Snohomish County Human Rights Ordinance by investigating, conciliating and conducting hearings on complaints of discrimination. In addition, the Commission will develop and conduct educational programs designed to prevent discrimination before it occurs and to promote better relations among the County’s diverse racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and social groups.

Purpose

Prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, and discrimination occasioned thereby threaten the rights and proper privileges of the County's inhabitants and menace the institutions and foundation of a free and democratic society. Behavior which denies equal treatment to any individual because of his or her race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, gender identity, or housing status undermines civil order, and economic prosperity, deprives individuals of the benefits of a free and open society. In order to create a free and open society, it is necessary to provide the protection set forth herein on a county-wide basis.

This Ordinance is adopted and codified to assure that individuals within the jurisdiction of Snohomish County shall be protected in the enjoyment of civil rights, and to promote mutual understanding and respect among all who live and work within this County. The provisions of this Ordinance shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of its purpose. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed to limit rights granted under the laws of the State of Washington or the United States. This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the “Snohomish County Human Rights Ordinance.”