During today’s meeting of the Champaign Community Coalition, a panel discussion was held to discuss issues impacting our local Latino community. Panelists shared stories with Coalition and community members regarding some of their experiences, which include feeling harassed or discriminated against due to their race or national origin. The Coalition hosted the panel as part of its ongoing efforts to identify and address issues impacting the lives of our community’s youth and families.
The Cities of Champaign and Urbana, along with the Champaign Community Coalition, are dedicated to ensuring all our residents, visitors, and guests are treated in a fair, equal, and inclusive manner. We stand united to fight discrimination, protect human rights, and promote inclusion and unity.
The Champaign and Urbana Human Relations Commissions work to provide guidance to residents by raising awareness of both cities’ Human Rights Ordinances and by working to end discrimination in all forms. Both Commissions also work collaboratively with other human rights organizations and the public to promote unity, dispel fear, and promote positive, inclusive community activities.
Both Commissions want to reassure our communities that behavior deemed as interfering with another’s individual human rights through intimidation, harassment and other forms of interference is not acceptable and that there are resources available for anyone who feels they’ve been discriminated against.
The Champaign and Urbana Human Rights Ordinances prohibit discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, and lending/credit on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, education, physical or mental disability, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, sexual preference, family responsibilities, source of income, prior arrest, or conviction record.
The Cities are proud of our diverse and welcoming community, and we are committed to safeguarding the human rights of everyone who lives, works, or visits Champaign-Urbana.
Anyone who feels they have been discriminated against is encouraged to contact either City for assistance:
- Champaign’s Community Relations Office -217-403-8830
- Urbana’s Human Relations Office – 217-384-2466
Media Contacts: Rachel Joy (Champaign) 217-403-8830 | Vacellia P. Clark (Urbana) 217-384-2466 | Tracy Parsons (Coalition) 217-403-8830