The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission hosted a community meeting on Saturday in Altoona, giving residents an overview of their civil rights under state law and offered resources on how to report discrimination.
PHRC officials said the meeting aimed to offer an overview of the agency’s work and explained how Pennsylvanians can file complaints under the Human Relations Act.
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Civil Rights Outreach Coordinator Montrell Smith said, “We usually respond within about two weeks if we can, and then we get out there and we discuss with the community and allow them to present their concerns and allow them to discuss what’s going on and then we react.”
PHRC aims to help affected residents file acts of discrimination in education, employment, housing and public accommodation.
Officials said the meeting was part of the PHRC’s broader community response effort, designed to address civil tensions and promote anti-racism through education and outreach.
Smith said, “Our mission is to have every resident of Pennsylvania live free of unlawful discriminatory acts.”
Organizers said that they hope these meetings will leave residents feeling informed, supported and ready to take action if their rights are ever at risk.
PHRC encourages those who want to get involved in working towards a more inclusive community to reach out to them, or to one of their local PHRC advisory councils.
