News from Around
Bitterroot Human Rights Alliance
BHRA was instrumental in turning out people for hearings by the Hamilton School Board, in an effort to prevent the school from banning the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Local pastor Cary Monaco and Christian Right activist Harris Himes attempted to get the school board to remove the book from the high school curriculum, claiming it is pornographic and promotes lesbianism. With overwhelming testimony from citizens, students, and teachers, the school board voted to keep the book in the curriculum.
In early April, Betty Kijewski from the Network presented The End of Silence, a documentary on harassment and violence directed at gay youth in Montana schools. The public showing was held at the River Street Dance Theatre in Hamilton, which was well attended by the public and educators from valley schools. BHRA would like to work with schools in the Bitterroot Valley on the safe schools campaign, which seeks to allow all students to access their education free from harassment, bullying and intimidation.
Also in April, BHRA cosponsored an address by William Mendoza, a union representative from Colombia. Mendoza spoke about the connections between right-wing paramilitaries and Coca Cola in Colombia. Following up on his visit, the BHRA coordinator met twice with the superintendent of Corvallis schools about their exclusive contract with Coca Coke.
Helena Human Rights Task Force
HHRTF coordinated a showing of At the Tipping Point with Working for Economic Equality and Liberation (WEEL). The documentary is about Montanans living without health insurance. The showing was held at Helena's Plymouth Congregational Church in April. Representatives from both HHRTF and WEEL appeared on a local radio show to promote the event, along with their respective organizations and the Network.
The Task Force also attended the Helena School Board meeting in June to support the adoption of a new harassment and bullying policy for Helena schools. The new policy was adopted, and it expands the district's current policy against harassment to include intimidation and bullying based on race, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical handicap, or other distinguishing features.
HHRTF also continued its weekly radio show on Carroll College Radio, "In Perspective." The show ran through mid-May and will take the summer off.
The group is planning to co-sponsor another presentation of the play "Should Women Be Allowed to Vote?" to be held in Bannack later this summer. The play takes an interesting look at arguments behind the women's suffrage movement.
Colombian Labor Leader Tours Montana
In April, the Montana Human Rights Network brought William Mendoza, the president of the Coca-Cola workers' union in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, to Montana for a speaking tour. Mendoza spoke about the connections between the managers of Colombia's Coca-Cola bottling plants and the right-wing paramilitaries, which use murder and repression in their attempt to eliminate the union. Mendoza and his family have been repeatedly threatened by the paramilitaries. The paramilitaries have close relations with the Colombian military and police, which are funded by American tax dollars. Mendoza gave community presentations in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula, along with speaking to university and high schools classes. He also met with administrators for the University of Montana about the university's exclusive contract with Coca Cola.
Network Documentary Tours Montana
The Network documentary The End of Silence has been shown in many communities across the state since January. The video was shot and edited by Network staffer Betty Kijewski and her son Josef. It features Montana youth talking about the difficulties they face as lesbian, gay, and bisexual students in accessing their education. These difficulties take the form of daily verbal and physical harassment, along with school employees unable or unwilling to help them. The powerful video is accompanied by a discussion led by Network staff. Community showings have already been done in Bozeman, Hamilton, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, and Polson.