Topic: Discrimination

A Talking Points Primer On Title VI

By Turner McCullough Jr. | October 2, 2007 |

Whenever local public officials are asked about Title VI, invariably they respond that they don’t know anything about it. They say they must check with the city or county attorney or some other ‘unavailable’ person. They are aware Title VI requirements exist, but are not versed in the details of those requirements and regulations. This should not be.

As we are now 43 years into the Civil Rights Act of 1964 being the law of the land, perhaps a brief primer is in order.

“Simple justice requires that public funds to which all taxpayers of all races contribute not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial discrimination.” — President John F. Kennedy, in his message calling for the enactment of Title VI, 1963.

On August 3, 1964, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. Federal regulations and rules were formulated to effect its compliance and enforcement. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues | No Comments

Teacher reprimanded for racial remarks and racially-based discipline

By Terry McMoore | September 29, 2007 |

Reed Bergen, a teacher at Montgomery Central High School in Clarksville, has received a letter of reprimand from Principal Christy Houston for using the word “Nigger” while speaking to a group of Black students in his class. The reprimand also covers Bergen’s admission that he has written up some students for discipline issues based on their race.

The parents of the Black students have joined with civil rights activist Terry McMoore, Director of the Urban Resource Center in calling for the immediate firing of Bergen from the Clarksville Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) and are recommending that his teaching license be revoked by the State of Tennessee and United States Department of Education.

The parents of the students involved will join McMoore for a press conference on this issue on Tuesday, October 2, at 3 p.m. outside the Public Library at 350 Pageant Lane. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | 3 Comments

Burkhart Firing Appears Counter to City Code

By Turner McCullough Jr. | June 21, 2007 |

The recent firing of former Deputy City Fire Chief Jeff Burkhart has many pondering what the city code states on the issue of city employee discipline, termination and due process. A review of the city code due process guidelines shows the following:

PART II CODE OF ORDINANCES
TITLE 1 ADMINISTRATION, OFFICERS, AND PERSONNEL

Chapter 13 PERSONNEL

Sec. 1-1316. Disciplinary action. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | 1 Comment »

Stop Violence Against Women

By Bill Larson | June 3, 2007 |

One in three women worldwide will be beaten, raped, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. Every 15 seconds a woman is physically assaulted by an intimate partner.

Throughout the world, women face violence every day. From the battlefield to the bedroom, women are at risk from violence in all areas of life. Violence against women is an abuse that is not confined to any political or economic system. It is prevalent in every society in the world. It cuts across boundaries of wealth, race and culture. It affects the young and the old. Wherever we live, women are suffering violence.

Violence against women persists because society allows it to. Virtually every culture in the world contains forms of violence against women that are often invisible because they are seen as normal or acceptable.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues | 1 Comment »

Building a bridge over the “Gay Man Straight Haters Club”

By David W. Shelton | May 31, 2007 |

I know we have the capability and the calling to rise above the petty behavior of …the armchair activists… who would rather lock themselves into the fading obscurity of subculture…

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine told me that she put in an application to a GLBT publication in New Mexico. She told me what the job would entail, and how she’d really enjoy doing it, especially since a lot of it could be done remotely. After a few minutes of jovial conversation, she came to the rather grim reality that she would probably not even be asked to interview for the job.

After all, she is straight, married, and has two very active daughters. Now, to be fair, she is very GLBT-friendly and has long been an advocate and ally to those of us who are struggling for equality. When I came out to her, she voiced her strong support for gay rights. She’s lived next to gay neighbors, and has even enjoyed conversations about men with her gay friends. However, labels have a way of affecting us pretty heavily in the GLBT community, and I wonder if we’ve done exactly what those boys did way back in the days of the “Little Rascals.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics, Spirituality | No Comments

What’s next? Where will the discrimination end?

By Michael Covington | September 19, 2006 |

My life is not that different than yours. I get up (usually quite some time after the alarm has gone off); grab a quick shower and a bite to eat before dashing off to work or school (usually unbelievably late). I work in customer service for a major cell phone corporation as an extension of the management team and take escalations from customers all day.

Overall, I enjoy my job. I come home, eat dinner, watch my DVR recorded TV shows (The West Wing, The Simpsons, and Eureka), read a chapter or two from a book, and fall asleep until the next day. I truly hope that my “gay lifestyle” is not offending anyone reading this quite yet. I have a townhouse near the hospital, a loving partner (Whom I don’t see enough of as I’d like.), and a kitchen table that has more paperwork than the IRS director’s desk. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | No Comments

A community united in grief.

By Bill Larson | June 30, 2006 |

Clarksville came together today, to recognize and celebrate the lives of two of it’s citizens. We came together representatives of every race, creed, and walk of life, united by our mutual respect, friendships, and love for Juan Julian Vasquez, Sr and Thomas Leon Vasquez. Though their lives were cut short, they left their indelible mark on the city and the community they loved.

Clarksville should take steps to memorialize Juan Julian Vasquez Sr and the contributions he made towards the unity of our city during his tenure as the vice chairman of the Human Relations Commission. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | 1 Comment »

The risks of amending the constitution to define marriage

By Bill Larson | June 12, 2006 |

The constitution states that the Congress writes the laws; the Executive branch approves them, and then enforces them; the Judicial branch interprets the meaning of what they say. Another duty of the judicial branch of our government is to ensure that the laws which are written and passed by Congress then approved by the President are constitutional. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | 2 Comments