Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Scrapbooks 1996

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WEDNESDAY

Racism light lunch Sunday COEUR d'ALENE -

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations on Sunday will hold its 10th annual regional luncheon celebrating the stand against racism.

Human rights leaders from Idaho and Washington will speak at the event, which will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Lake City Senior Center, 1916 Lakewood Drive.

The theme will combine celebrating the past and planDing for the future in the work for human rights.

The task force will donate $1 of each $4 luncheon ticket to help rebuild predominately black churches which have recently been destroyed by arson in southern states.

In 1986, the task force held its first human rights celebration at City Park in Coeur d'Alene. That event spawned the six-state Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment Tickets to Sunday's luncheon may be reserved by calling 765-3932. Tickets will also be available at the door.

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MONDAY, JULY 22, 1996

1 SECTION

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'There had to be an alternative voic¡e ... ' Human rights task force celebrates decade of service

By TONY HOPFINGER Staff writer

COEUR d' ALENE - In mid-July 1986, "Racism: Prejudices and Progress," attracted more than 1,000 human rights activists from all over the country, as the Kootenai County Task Force took an historic step to redefining North Idaho's national image.

Ten years later and with sue-

MONDAY

cess under its belt, the task force celebrated the anniversary of the 1986 Human Rights Celebration Sunday afternoon at the Lake City Senior Center.

"We're here to celebrate the past and plan for the future," said long standing task force member, Tony Stewart About 120 concerned citizens from Idaho and Washington attended the luncheon.

The first Human Rights Celebration was in response to the annual Aryan Nations conferences that had been attracting national media attention in the early and rnid-1980s.

"We sensed (in 1986) that there was going to be another world conference (by the Aryan Nations) ," Coeur d'Alene attorney Norm Gissel told the audience. "We felt there had to be an alternative voice heard."

The task force countered the Aryan Nations' conference and lured the national media to City Park where the first Human Rights Celebration took place.

"We wanted to create the impression that the Northwest was against this racism the Aryan Nations was spreading," Gissel said. "It was an enormous success."

More than 200 counties and cities in the Northwest endorsed the task force's proclamation that denounced bate groups, drafted

by Gissle, furthering the group's wide-range success.

A decade later, more needs to still be done, task force members said, especially in lieu of Friday evening's Aryan Nations march.

"If you walk down Sherman Avenue, you can see we still have a lot of work," said Skip C:ook, Bonner County Task Force :nember.

Emphasis will continue to be placed on education. "'The biggest thing you can do is educate the future generations," Stewart said.

Task force members are also hoping an upcoming event in Spokane will strengthen support and help annihilate North Idaho's "white man's land" reputation.

The Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment will hold its 10th annual conference mid-October at Gonzaga University.

ANDRE NEY/Coeur d'Alene Press

Tony Stewart, long-standing member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, speaks at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the 1986 Human Rights Celebration that was held in Coeur d'Alene City Park. The lunch celebration was in the Lake City Senior Center Sunday afternoon.

¡Kootenai County still fighting racism Decade-old task force realizes work not done The Associated Press

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COEUR D'ALENE - In mid.July 1986, ''Racism: Prejudices and Progress," attracted over 1,000 human-rights activists from all over t he country as the Kootenai County Task Force took a historic step toward redefining northern Idaho's national image.

A decade later, the task force celebrated the anniversary this weekend.

"We're here to celebrate the past and plan for the future," task force member Tony Stewart said.

The first Human Rights Celebration was in response to the annual Aryan Nation

A decade later, more still needs to be conferences that had been attracting national media attention in the early and done, task force members said, especially mid-1980s. in lieu of the march late last week to begin "We sensed that there was going to be the Aryan Nation annual conference at another world conference" by the Aryan Hayden Lake. " If you walk down Sherman Avenue, Nation, Coeur d'Alene attorney Norm Gissel said. "We felt there had to be an you can see we still have a lot of work," said Skip Cook, Bonner County Task alternative voice heard."

The task force countered the Aryan Na- Force member. tion's conference and lured the national Emphasis will continue on education.

"The biggest thing you can do is edumedia to City Park where the first Human cate the future generations," Stewart Rights Celebration took place. " We wanted to create the impression said. that the Northwest was against this rac¡ Task force members are also hoping an ism the Aryan Nation was spreading," upcomi ng event in Spokane will strengthGissel said. "It was an enormous success." en support and help annihilate the PanMore t han 200 counties and cities in the handl e's "white man's land" reputation.

Northwest endorsed the task force's procThe North west Coalition Against Malil amation that denounced hate groups, cious Harassment will hold its 10th annudrafted by Gissel, furthering t he group's al conference in mid-October at Gonzaga wide-range s uccess.

University.

TASK FORCE CHARGES ONLY s1 TO JOIN Anybody with $1 who supports human rights while condemning the hated synonymous with bigotry can join the Kootenai Task Force on Human Relations.

The nominal dues provide permanent membership, said Coeur d'Alene political scientist and long-standing task force member Tony Stewart The task force is about 250 people strong and is always accepting new members.

Formed 15 years ago in response to a Jewish business man whose Hayden restaurant was being vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti, the task force is founded upon the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Idaho Constitution.

"We oppose discrimination or the denial of equal protection of laws based upon race, color, religion, creed, gender, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation," the task force's preamble says. "It is our creed that saying 'yes' to human right is the best way to 'no' to prejudice.

The permanent organization has five prima ry objectives: • To provide support to people victimized by prejudice and bigotry; • To provide education promoting positive human relations;

• To promote legislation that deals with malicious harassment; • To monitor and document hate activity, crimes and incidents; • And to promote a positive, tolerant and accurate image of the acceptance of diversity and pluralism on the part of the people of Kootenai County.

The task force is governed by a board of directors ranging in size from 10 to 20 people who are elected to 4-year terms by its members.

Stewart and Coeur d'Alene Realtor Marshall Mend are the only board members who have been w ith the organization since its inception.

A wide range of groups is represented on the task force, including the Coeur d'Alene Tribe; North Idaho College; countywide high schools; the Hispanic, Asian-American, Jewish and black communities; local county government; Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce; religious community and law enforcement.

The task force holds regular annual meetings and calls special meetings when needed. During each Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene, the organization distributes informational material.

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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Kootenai County's trailblazing human rights movement began humbly in December 1980 when a small group of community boosters met at a Hayden restaura nt on Government Way. Chef Rosen's, an eatery owned by Sidney Rosen (at the time one of the few practicing Jewish people in the area), had been the target of repeated anti-Semetic graffiti.

Alarmed by the bigotry erupting in their ru ral community, the grassroots group decided something must be done, remembers Coeur d'Alene political scientist Tony Stewart, an original and current member of the task force.

The first objective of the task force was "totally focused on legislation against malicious harassment," Stewart said.

Despite the successful prosecution of Gilbert, task force members felt it was imperative to make malicious harassment based on bias a felony in Idaho.

Stewart credits the efforts of North Idaho lawmakers - particularly Sen. Mary Lou Reed, D-Coeur d'Alene - with pushing through human rights legislation in the early 1980s.

In 1983, Idaho became one of the first states nationwide to pass an anti-malicious harassment law.

Other human rights legislation was passed later in the 1980s with strong support from North Idaho, including an antiparamilitary act and a bias crime reporting law that required officers to specify if an offense was believed to be based on discrimination. And in 1990, the Gem State officially made Martin Luther King Day a holiday.

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Newspaper to receive civil rights award Spo,kane. Wash./ Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

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BRIEFLY Sandpoint invited toreflect on MU<

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• Sandpoint An evening of readings, poetry and songs will celebrate Martin Luther King Day in Sandpoint on Monday.

The event begins at 6 p.m. and will be held at Connie's Convention Center.

It is sponsored by the hum~ rights clubs of Sandpoint High School and Sandpoint Middle School.

Student organizers hope members of the audience will share favorite poems, readings or songs during the "open mike" program. The selections do not need to be original, but should reflect King·s teachings on racial harmony, non-violence and peace. For more information, call (208) 263-5617.

• Coeur d'Alene The Spokesman-Review will be honored Monday by the Kooten.u County Task Force on Human Relations.

The task force will present its Civil Rights award to the newspaper for publishing the recent three-part series titled "The War Within." ·'This in-depth ;eries clearly revealed the thinking, new strategies and crimes of the anti-government rebels throughout the nation, and the rebels' attempt to djsrupt and overthrow the government," said board member Tony Stewart.

Stewart and president Norm Gissel will give the award to Publisher Stacey Cowles, editor Chris Peck and reporter Bill Morlin.

The presentation will be made at the task force's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day reception.

For the first time, the fund-raising gala and auction is sold out in advance, Stewart s.ud.

The money raised is spent largely on education. Last week, the board of directors awarded $400 to the Post Falls Education Foundation. The money will be used to present a program thls spring about Anne Frank, whose family hid from the Nazis during World War 11.

The task force also supports an annual peace camp for Kootenai County and Spokane County high school students.

A8 THE COEUR d'ALENE PRESS Tuesday, Jan. 21, 1997

Human relations awards given COEUR d' ALENE - Duane Hagadone received an award for his outstanding contributions over the past 16 years to the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

The "Most Outstanding Contributor Award" was presented at the task force's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day reception and fund-raiser, held at the Clark House in Hayden Lake.

"He's been supporting the task force since it started," said Tony Stewart, a board member of the human equality group. "The Hagadone Corporation has been very, generous."

The Spokesman-Review was also honored a Civil Rights award for a three-part series it wrote called titled "The War Within." Reporter Bill Morlin of the Spokane paper examined new trends in anti-government terrorism spreading throughout the country.

The fund-raiser, which included live and silent auctions, was sold out in advance.

The task force uses the money from the dinner •,ent to fund its operations, most of which is educalal activities.

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Kootenai County Task Fo,c.e On ~uman Relations c ommilft'd ro rlw dim/nm ion of <'llln ic. raci(l / <1ncl rd i!J irn 1s uio/en ct' o ne/ intimlcJo ticm

January 20 , 1997 TO: THE SPOKESMAN REVIEW STACEY COWLES, PUBLISHER CHRIS PECK , EDITOR BILL MORLIN , STAFF WRITER It is with great enthusiasm and appreciation that the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations ' Board of Directors presents this Civil Rights Award to Stacey Cowles, Chris Peck and Bill Morlin of "The Spokesman Review" for the remarkable three part series entitled " The War Within" . This in- depth series clearly revealed the thinking, new strategies and crimes of the anti-government rebels throughout the Nation and the rebels attempt to disrupt and overthrow the government . These "Spokesman Review" articles informed the general public about the background of the key rebels, the new strategies for terrorism by these rebels or groups, and a listing of crimes committed by many of these anti-government forces.

We commend "The Spokesman Review" for bringing to light these latest developments that have largely gone unnoticed by the media. These rebel activities are a danger to our citizens and the democratic institutions . We further believe this ,series will result in a national awareness of these rebel strategies and activities.

We commend " The Spokesman Review" for committing significant resources and time to reporting on these violent acts across the Nation . " The Spokesman Review" has commenced the discussion and so we , the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations , now recognize and honor "The Spokesman Review" for their contributions to a better informed public by presenting this Civil Rights Award on the 20th day of January, 1997.

KOOTENAI COUNTY TASK FORCE ON HUMAN RELATIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

On Behalf of the Board

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TONY STEWART Past President

President

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North Idaho praised for fighting racism Human rights leaders cite . ' regions progress

By Craig Welch Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE-Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler pulled into North ldaho in the late 1970s, hoping to form and lead a racist nation.

Twenty year:. later, he struggles to be more than a troublesome outcast, say two leaders in Coeur d'Alene's human rights movement.

That, they say, is a feather in Kootenai County's collective cap.

"He came here knowing it was a

Coalition: 16 years of fighting prejudice Continued from A1

residents not weaken their resolve to rid the region of hate. " My hope would be that we, in the future, would become unimportant because that would mean lhat the opposition has become unimportant," Gissell said. ''That's not the case yet."

Progress has been made, both men said Now in its 16th year. the task force has successfully pushed the state to ban paramilitary training and create laws against mali-

mostly white community." said Norm Gissell, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. "But he wrongly equated 'white' with 'racist.' " As the nation honored its most famous slain civil rights hero - the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.-on Monday, Gissell and fellow task force member Tony Stewart urged North Idaho residents to celebrate their triumphs over racism.

But the two men also asked that Continued: Coalltlon/A4

cious harassment and crimes of prejudice.

The Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment - a task force brain child - has become a national leader in the civil rights movement. This year, the group will push for laws banning bomb-making.

Democratic Gov: Cecil Andrus led the state in 1990 to finally recognize MLK day.

While serving as a legislator, Republican Phil Batt convinced fellow lawmakers to authorize a state Human Rights Commission.

Now governor. Batt last year pushed to require farmers provide compensation insurance for the state's 35,000 farm workers most of whom are Hispanic.

At home, Panhandle residents are quick to defend victims of hate crimes and oppose intolerance. they said.

Stewart, an instructor at North Idaho

Norm Gissell, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, cites gains against prejudice In the Inland Northwest

College, said that when a student recently suggested ''equality" was not one of the country's found ing principles, the rest of the class exploded, rejecting the argument.

He recalled residents' outrage a few yem ago when it was discovered that a Sherman Avenue bar had a ¡¡No Colors" sign in the window. Stewart and others were relieved to learn the sign was there to deter bikers from wearing gang colors. "l mention those examples to show our (the region's) attitude isn't accepting of intolerance," Stewart said.

But Gissell and Stewart also pointed to the bombing-robberies in Spokane last year and the continued fracturing and reorganizing of right-wing extremist groups.

In addition, the Soviet Union's collapse means some residents are casting about for

an enemy, they said.

As a result, the Panhandle

must be vigilant in coming years to make sure no minority group - religious. racial or otherwise becomes a scapegoat, Stewart said.

And the region must work to publicly denounce its image as a place accepting of racist groups.

When Gentleman's Quarterly magazine wrote a cover story last year focusing on Butler and suggesting average North Idahoans viewed minorities as outsiders, the task force wrote a critical review that later was published tn the magazine.

"There are still a lot of (hate) groups out there who arc looking for a place to go. some place they can grow,'' said Stewart. "We have lo continue to make sure that place isn't here.''

North lclaho/Fro111 the Front Page

Street Talk

What in your opinion is a signilicant civil rights change since

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Anti harassment laws and the establishment of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Cindy Shannon, Coeur d'Alene

More acceptance of multi-racial comedians. There is no more need to use individual ethnic material.

Charlie Laborte, Coeur d'Alene

1l1e schools have been integrated and there is a lot less segregation.

Conni e Wolf, Coeur d'Alene

I honeslly don't think very much has, not for good. People are just as prejudice as they were before.

Kit Kalomiris, Coeur d'Alene

Acceptance of women into military academies and combat. I don't feel that should have ever taken place.

James Adank, Coeur d'Alene

People are starting to realize that people are all the same regardless of color.

Allen Poland, Post Falls Compiled by ANDRE NEY

Tt~~rr'~~!~le led to h?mhing sus2~~ts Informant told lawyer about men with weapons, suspicious plans

By Craig Welch Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - On a midAugust day last year, one of attorney Norm Gissel's favorite clients telephoned, begging to see him right away.

Concerned, Gissel went to nearby Henry's restaurant, where the nervous client told bis attorney he knew the Spokane. Valley's elusive bombers.

Over a 90-minute lunch, the 40-year-old military surplus trader described repeated business dealings with three North Idaho men. The men had unusual right-wing

Also today • Attorneys for men dispute allegations/A&

religious beliefs, were amassing weapons and had shared suspicious plans with Gissel's client ··tt was one of the most intriguing conversations of my life," Gissel said.

That lunch forever altered several lives.

Today, the three men - Charles H. Barbee. Verne Jay Merrell and Robert S. Berry - are in jail, charged with doing exactly what Gissel's client suspected. In separate incidents last year, bombs exContinued: Informant/A&

Craio Buell/The Spokesman-Review

Norm Gissel talks about a client pivotal in bombing case.

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Wednesday, January 29, 1997

Informant: Into a new identity Continued from A1 ploded at Tbe 路Spokesman-Review's Valley office and a Planned Parenthood clinic minutes before a U.S. Bank branch was robbed.

The three also are being investigated for possible links to the July 27 Olympics bombing in Atlanta. Gissel's client told the FBI he sold one of the men a backpack resembling one used in that explosion.

The client is gone, vanished into a federal witness-protection program after cooperating with the FBL Now he must find new friends, a new job, a new identity. His whereabouts are a mystery- even to Gissel.

"He said it was like winning the lottery in reverse," Gissel said.

"Everybody won but路him."

Gissel, who 路also leads North Idaho's oldest civil rights group, talked Tuesday about his dual role as a spokesman against terrorism and a lawyer protecting a friend.

As president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, Gissel has spoken against hate for years and tracked violent groups, like The Order and Phineas Priesthood.

"There's definite irony there," Gissel said. "There's a sense of history and understanding."

Gissel met his client nine years ago. The lawyer was hired to represent him in a real estate deal.

The two hit it off so weU, Gissel joined his client a few times at surplus auctions at Fairchild Air Force Base.

"I'm a book fanatic and be told me there were lots of them there," Gissel said. "He was right."

According to federal court documents, Gissel's client first met Berry at a Spokane gun show in 1992. Berry later introduced him to the other two bombing suspects.

Gissel's client told the FBI that over the next four years he sold the suspects military fatigues, body armor, rolls of Kevlar, ponchos and night-vision goggles.

He also claimed to have sold the

men parkas similar to the ones worn by robbers in video surveillance footage from the April 1 U.S. Bank robbery.

The three suspects also shared odd details of the Valley bombings with Gissel's client, according to court documents. The robbers claimed to have put things in their bats to appear taller, burned their park.as in a yard after the July 路 12 Planned Parenthood bombing. One of them even told the client he painted a handgun black before the bank robbery that followed.

By midsummer - acknowledging interest in a $130,000 reward - the client was ready to pass those details on to authorities. He called Gissel, who informed the FBI. Gissel's client knew of the attorney's role in fighting human rights abuses, but came to him merely because they'd had a professional and personal relationship.

"I can't remember that we ever had a conversation about civil rights," Gissel said. "It was just another odd coincidence."

The FBI promised immunity, but Gissel maintains his client was not involved in the crimes. He also said the man did not share the suspects' white separatist beliefs. " I think it quickly became apparent to the FBI that this person didn't do anything, that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Gissel said. "He acted against his own financial and personal best interest in coming forward."

The reward money is "peanuts compared to what he's lost," Gissel said.

Gissel said his client knew almost immediately that he'd have to leave North Idaho. He even fretted about it before coming forward. " I don't know exactly when the

epiphany hit," Gissel said. "But we both foresaw what his future might be like, that it would be reasonable to expect he would have to uproot."

Gissel said he won't see his client again until the man testifies at the Valley bombing suspects' trial. Afterward, he might never see him again.

"As an attorney helping a client through the most dramatic period of his life, it was a highly interesting experience," Gissel said. "But for him, it's very traumatic."

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Saturday, April 12, 1997 Coeur d'Alene Inn Conference Center Social Hour 6-7 p.m. • Program 7-9:30 p.m.

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Hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar will be available

3 Main Topics for Discussion • What's the problem!

• What's being done: What more can be done .

•Possible directions for action.

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Task force gains more support from business COEUR d' ALENE Business leaders have been more involve d in im proving North Idaho's image than 10 years ago wh e.o the Northwest Coalition Against Malicio us Harassment was formed , said human rig hts advocates Saturday night

During a fo rum on equ ality issues held at the Coeur d'Alene BUSINESS continued on AS Doug Cresswell, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations

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Plus, and Frank Lockwood, spokesman for Gov.

Phil Batt

Potter calJed for a return to the days of 1987, when Coeur d'Alene won a national award for its Inn, Bill Wassmuth, executive director of the coali- effort to improve race relations. tion, said the business community has stepped up its Lockwood said North Idaho should emphasize efforts in combating racism and bigotry. its diversity through locaJ heroes like Vern Baker, 1 think it has recognized that it must be count- who was recently awarded the Meda) of Honor, and ed," he said. '1bey're ready to stand strong togeth- Dan O'Brien, 1996 Olympic decathlon champion. er and take positive action."

Outside the hotel, Aryan Nations Leader Rev. Doug Cresswell, president of the Kootenai Richard Butler was arrested for trespassing after County Task Force on Human Relations, echoed being warned to not go on the property. He and sevWassmuth's views. eral other white supremacists briefly protested at "Most business leaders are civic minded and want the start of the forum. a good quality of life for the people that live in the The reminder of bigotry and racism in the area area." CresswelJ said. '1bey are very dedicated to did not spoil Saturday night, said task force memhelping change the image." ber Tony Stuart About 350 people attended the finaJ celebration '1be tremendous turnout says once again that and meeting of the coalition's 10th anniversary. the North Idaho cares about the rights of all people Speakers included Bob Potter, director of Jobs and will stand by them," Stuart said.

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Organizers say human rights rally a succesâ&#x20AC;˘ COEUR d ' ALENE - Satu r day's hu man rig hts rally was a successful venture that accomplished its goal, organizers said Monday.

"It was a great night for human rights," said Doug Cresswell, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. "It was our goal to rejuvenate the human rights movement and address what's perceived as the negative image with North Idaho.''

It was the final evening of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment's 10th anniversary celebration.

The event attracted 350-400 people, including representation from the business community, legislators and civic leaders.

Also on hand was a small contingency from the Aryan Nation - seven adults and one child.

Aryan Nation leader Richard Butler was arrested for trespassing at the event, which took place at the Coeur d'Alene Inn. Butler was charged with the misdemeanor and released on $150 bond.

Human rights rally organizers had no part in the arrest, but condoned the action.

MATI HELM/ Coeur d'Alene Press "It wasn't our decision, but it was probably Bill Douglas, Kootenai County prosecutor, speaks during the Northwest Coalition Against the right thing to do," Cresswell said.

Malicious Harassment's 10th anniversary celebration Saturday.

It's the boot camp in-rW~d~~~e2? ~~~i~m They enter Camp PEACE as children leave as trained civil rights activists '

By Julie Titone Scaff writer

TWIN LAKES. Idaho - Indian. Guy with long hair. Female. On welfare. Gay men. Dropouts. African Americans.

What's the first thing you think of when you see those words? Be honest, Peggy Federici would caution.

"We have grown up in a society that's sexist and racist, so we can't help 1l when things come into our minds," she said Friday. "But if we say them or act on them, we have to say, 'Whoa!' " Federici trains high school students at Camp PEACE, an unusual retreat that sprang from concern about racism in the

Inland Northwest.

"It certainly arose out of a need," said Federici. " It also makes the statement that we are not all racists. we're not bigoted."

Washington and Idaho schools have been sending students here each spring since 1991. A fall session was recently added.

The retreat that ends today is attended by 40 students and counselors from Wallace High School, Lakeside High in Plummer, and three schools from Spokane County's Mead district.

Thirty-five similar groups have been trained. They've gone on to become

Sometimes you have to get the ugly stuffout on the table before you can move on. " PeggyFederici, Camp PEACE trainer

SWAT teams of a sort, fighting racism in their schools. They've done some remarkable things, said the Rev. John Olson, camp director.

"One of the first teams we trained was from Lewis and Clark High School, which

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went back and_ trained their entire faculty.

They brought m people of colar, community leaders and kids, to share t~eir stories.

"When there were racial slul, on campus. the kids went to the home rooms and said that this would not be tolerated al

LC." When black students moved Lo Post Falls from New York and had problems, he said, the camp-trained team from Coeur d'Alene High School went there to strengthen the resolve of the Post Falls team.

Teamwork is a key concept at Camp PEACE. which stands for People Everywhere Are Created Equal.

Continued: Camp PEACE/A13

,

Camp PEACE: Making diversity something that's celebrated Continued from A1

The policy is a recogmt1on that solo activism is tough.

"They come up with a plan to try to change the climate at their schools, to make diversity something that's not only tolerated, but celebrated," Olson said.

First, they have some learning to do.

Federici, a North Idaho College teacher, teaches mostly by getting the teenagers to talk.

The exercise asking "what's the first thing you think of' brought some lively discussion Friday.

Students used sticky-notes to paste their words on posters marked "On Welfare," "American Indian," and the like.

Federici was surprised by the lower-than-normal number of derogatory and stereotyped images that were associated with the ethnic minorities. Maybe, she told the group, that was because there were Indians and African-Americans among them.

But the words associated with gay men and dropouts were especially harsh. One girl took great exception to unflattering comments about welfare recipients.

"I completely disagree with the stereotype saying most people on welfare are lazy. I was on welfare. My mom was just divorced, had three kids under the age of six. Our house was clean as can be."

Another was offended by a label posted under "female."

"Whoever said we're bitches can kiss mine. We're not all like that."

But another girl said: "I think this sex object thing is true. A lot of women do choose to sell themselves or expose themselves."

Olson recalled a session in which a black student from Colville spoke up.

Not a day went by, he said, that he didn't hear a racial slur. Other blacks told their painful stories, and suddenly everyone had something to say.

"You couldn't shut them off," he said. "They wanted to talk all night."

Federici tells the students that it's OK to get "raggedy'' during the

sessions, to make mistakes. She talks with them about respect, empathy.

"We've had a couple of times when things got heated," she said. "It's OK. Sometimes you have to get the ugly stuff out on the table before you can move on."

Students and advisers routinely evaluate the camp with 9.5 on a scale of 10, Olson said.

Participants are usually chosen by counselors or student officers. The most successful ones are a blend of genders, ethnic groups, leaders and followers, said Olson.

The team from Lakeside was getting into the swing on Friday.

Kelly McDougall said she didn't think students at her school have cultural biases. Ted Colley said "it's there, but it's not a major problem."

But a little more discussion brought up names of offenders. " I think they should pick the most racist people and make them come to camp," said Anthony "Flip" Garcia.

But Camp PEACE isn't meant to bC? remedial, said Olson.

"We're not looking for skinheads to come and have a conversion," he said.

The camp is supported by donations. The biggest contributor is the Disciples of Christ, or Christian Church. The retreats take place at the Methodists' Twin low Camp.

But the lessons aren't overtly religious, said Olson, himself a Lutheran pastor.

Co-sponsors are the Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries and the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

When Ginny Delong of Coeur d'Alene first suggested the camp, she was victim support chairperson for the task force. She wanted a way to help prevent racism, not just deal with its aftermath.

She'd like to see the camp expanded to include students from Oregon and Montana.

"This isn't something you solve," Delong said of discrimination. " It's a process of how you look at things, how life ' is, and that's always changing.''