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HomeNewsTennessee Human Rights Commission listens to complaints of local residents

Tennessee Human Rights Commission listens to complaints of local residents

People concerned with issues of discrimination when it comes to employment, Title VI, public accommodations and housing had an opportunity to bring their complaints before the Tennessee Human Rights Commission during a forum hosted by the Hispanic Organization for Progress & Education H.O.P.E.

The TN Human Rights Commission works with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in an effort to help eradicate complaints of discrimination across the state of Tennessee.

This time the executive director of the THRC Beverly L. Watts along with several commissioners and staff members made their way to Clarksville to hear citizens with discrimination complaints or issues.

Richard Waters from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division covering Title VI was also on hand to answers questions or complaints concerning Title VI. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states:

No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Some of the complaints brought before the commission this evening were, job discrimination at Austin Peay State University when it come to equal employment and promotions for minorities.

Blind children being denied access to accommodations available to them thru the Montgomery County School system.

Where is the minority representation when it comes to getting biding contracts for government jobs and the main questions that seems to dominate most of these meeting is can an employer just up and fire you for no reason and how do I file a complaint if I believe discrimination was involved.

The commission expressed that each case and situation is different and needs to be handle and addressed on a case by case bases but in the case of being fired by an employee and they don’t give you a reason well the state of Tennessee is an at will employment state which means you can be fired and the employer does not have to give you a reason.

But if you believe you have been terminated or fired because of discrimination you have 300 days after your termination to file a complaint with their central office, and they will launch an investigation.. Their office is located at:

710 James Robertson Parkway (Corner of Rosa Parks Blvd)
Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37243-1219.

Phone: (615) 741-5825
Fax Numbers: (615) 253-1886 or (615) 532-2197
Toll Free: (800) 251-3589

For faster service you can down load a complaint form as well as access a wealth of information by visiting their website at http://www.state.tn.us/humanrights/

The THRC has regional offices in Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Nashville but check your local government because many city and county government offices like Clarksville may have a Human Rights Commission already in your town.

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