State News Release

Washington State Human Rights Commission

Date: September 29, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marc Brenman, Executive Director, 360-753-2558 mbrenman@hum.wa.gov


State History Museum and State Human Rights Commission share discussion

OLYMPIA, WA - Staff of the Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) will be hosted by the State History Museum in Tacoma and will tour a new exhibit on Tacoma's Civil Rights Struggle: African Americans Leading the Way, on September 30.  The exhibit opened on August 18 and continues through December 7, 2008.  It centers on the 1960s and early 1970s.  The WSHRC was established in 1949 to prevent and eliminate discrimination in Washington State under the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), RCW 49.60.  The WSHRC is the first civil rights enforcement agency west of the Mississippi. 

"African-Americans in Tacoma led the way for equal rights in housing, employment and public accommodation," said WSHRC Executive Director Marc Brenman.  "It is no coincidence that the WSHRC was established during the same time.  Some people mistakenly believe that racial discrimination is a thing of the past.  This exhibit will help create dialogue among our staff and across the state."    After the tour by State History Museum Director David Nicandri staff will attend an investigative training session at the Museum. 

WSHRC Commissioner Ellis Casson lived in Tacoma for many years, first while being stationed in the military, and later as a minister.  He has been an active civil rights leader for over fifty years and has served with the WSHRC since 1999. Commissioner Casson said, "I've been to the exhibit.  It's very impressive.  My mother-in-law, Helen B. Stafford, came to Tacoma from Kansas in 1926."

Commissioner Casson told the story of Ms. Stafford having just received her college degree at the age of 20, at a time when African-American women were not allowed to go to college.  Ms. Stafford became very involved in the civil rights movement in Tacoma and her photographs are part of the museum display.  "She was not allowed to teach in Tacoma.  Recently, the Tacoma School District named an elementary school after her.  As the senior Commissioner, I am proud that her story and others like hers are being told," said Commissioner Casson.

WSHRC Commissioners, as appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire, are Yvonne Lopez Morton, Chair, Spokane; Ellis Casson, Seattle; Deborah Sioux Lee, Olympia; and Shawn Murinko, Olympia. 

The Washington State History Museum, flagship of the Washington State Historical Society, is at 1911 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, just off 1-5. For more information, including hours and admission rates, please call 1-888-BE-THERE (1-888-238-4373.  For more information about the exhibit, visit www.washingtonhistory.org.