Human Rights Hits The Ground Running
Without question Rockland County is a “melting pot” of diverse cultures and ethnicities which is exactly why my administration made sure to not rush the process of filling the critical position of Human Rights Commissioner back in 2021.
We took our time combing through candidates to find the most qualified individual to protect the human rights of our residents which unanimously led to the recommendation of Spencer Chiimbwe being selected.
One of my expectations of our Human Rights Commissioner is to be omnipresent, establish trust, and be proactive in helping residents facing discrimination of any kind and I’m proud to say Commissioner Chiimbwe is leading that charge well with the opening of our third Human Rights Satellite Office.
Our satellite offices currently include:
Haverstraw Center – every Wednesday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Nyack Village Hall – every first Tuesday of the month from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Finkelstein Memorial Library – every Thursday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
We hope these Satellite Offices increase access to any questions or concerns residents may have related to human rights issues and foster a stronger relationship between our commission and the community.
I remind our residents that no one person, one department, or one group, can get the job done. The collective ownership and responsibility of protecting human rights starts and ends with every one of us.
We must all commit, as a County, to stand united against any form of hate or discrimination that surfaces. Discrimination will not and cannot be destroyed from the top-down. The issues we face can only be solved from the ground up, by a community united and we hope this local presence is an additional tool to help us win the war.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said:
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
To the people of Rockland, lets stand tall together and never stop fighting – on good days and bad – for the inalienable rights that we are born with… as we are all created equal.
Individuals interested in filing a complaint can contact the Rockland County Human Rights Commission at 845-364-3886.
