Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
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At a recent Moorhead Human Rights Commission Meeting, Commission members spoke about a Hate Crimes prevention training for it's police officers and the school district.

Almost two weeks after the Minnesota Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights came to town and conducted a two day fact finding hearing.

The Moorhead Human Rights Commission is now willing to train police officers and school district students or personnel after testimony was given concerning the police and the school district.

During testimony city and school officials listed numerous programs that focused on diversity, but two Professors say their research shows some residents are unwilling to help people different than themselves.

Despite, the diversity programs already in place parents were telling stories of their children being victimized and harassed by fellow white students. While others told stories of how the police were stopping individuals who were of color.

The Fargo Forum reported in their headlines, "Moorhead Cops Walk thin, Gray Line when it comes to Minorities." Individuals who gave testimony spoke about the fear of being stopped by the police because of who they where.

An American Indian man was stopped for having a dream catcher hanging from his rear-view mirror. Minnesota has a law that does not allow drivers to hang items on their mirror, but it is rarely enforced, testified, Joe Parise, an Attorney.

A training in Cultural sensitivity for the police and the school district can help understand situations that may occur in the future. As Amnesty International suggests in a recent report, "police officers are responsible for upholding the law and protecting the rights of all members of society."

" In Moorhead, we shall see the results of these trainings for the police officers and the school district." said a community member of Moorhead.