Group seeks stronger Minnesota Department of Human Rights

Some African-American community leaders are rallying behind a legislative effort to put more muscle into the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

The department is underfunded and overstretched at a time when communities of color need it most, says St. Paul NAACP President Jeffry Martin.

"What happens during the recession or this kind of economic downturn is that a lot of people feel they've been discriminated against on their jobs or they've been let go unfairly, they go to the Human Rights department only to find out, 'We can't get to you for another year and a half,'" he said. "Not because they're lazy, but because they only have certain people to do that job, and they only have certain resources."

The Council on Black Minnesotans is pushing to expand the department's duties. It also wants a constitutional amendment that would give the department free rein to enforce the state's human rights laws.

The council's director, Edward McDonald, says his group is recommending 13 bills to the Legislature this year that cover issues ranging from the arts to education. McDonald says that approach is a departure from previous sessions.

"Historically, the councils have written plain-English narratives that sort of collect dust on legislators' bookshelves and in the governor's filing cabinet," he said. "And this year actually we took those ideas generated from the community and turned them into legal-form bills. And I think that caught people off-guard a little bit."

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.