Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2007 — Rights on the ropes [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Rights on the ropes

Haunani Apuliuna. MSW ChairpErsūn, TrustEE, At-larga

Is the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights directing a predetermined, biased poliīieal agenda to dismantle civil rights? On July 13, 2007, the United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) voted 6-2 to re-charter the Hawai'i State Advisory Committee (HISAC) to the USCCR. We applaud HISAC members of good intent who have stepped up to protect civil rights in Hawai'i. The 2007 HISAC members are: Amefil R. Agbayani, Robert A Alm, Kheng See Ang, H. William Burgess, Daphne E. Barbee-Wooten, Jennifer Benck, Vernon F.L. Char, Linda Colburn, Miehelle Nalani Fujimori, Rubellite K. Johnson, James I. Kuroiwa, Miehael A. Lilly, Thomas J. Macdonald, Kealoha K. Pisciotta, Paul M. Sullivan, Wayne M. Tanna, Jackie Young. Fujimori, Pisciotta and Young are retuming members, and Lilly was nominated as chair. Maka'ala kākou. Past experience with the USCCR now signals the stage being set for a majority in HISAC, and likely other state advisory committees, to promote a predetermined, biased poliīieal agenda to undemiine and dismantle, rather than protect, selected civil rights. Several vocal and published opponents of Hawaiian Recognition have been appointed to HISAC, yet vocal supporters were left off. Bias against the Hawaiian Recognition bill suiTounded the Januaiy 20, 2006 USCCR briefing on the bill. The USCCR media advisory filed for the 2006 briefing, read: "USCCR TO EXAMINE NATIVE HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION ACT." During the briefing, the proposed legislation was described by its critics as "racial balkanization," a mischaracterization of the bill that has become a slogan of the bill's most right-wing opponents. Actual purpose language in the proposed Akaka Bill was ignored. The facts were disregarded. In an Apiil 5, 2006 letter to USCCR, OHA registered concerns about the USCCR 2006 bill briefing process. The published briefing report was flawed, and yet Republican senators quoted it. In this round of appointments, USCCR Staff Director Marcus, when questioned, replied

at the July 13, 2007 meeting that none of the OHA refeirals who submitted applieations were recommended by him to serve on HISAC. USCCR mission The USCCR website describes a six point USCCR mission. One point of the mission is to investigate complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote by reason of their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin or by reason of fraudulent practices. The mission also calls for the USCCR to study and collect information relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution, and to appraise federal laws and policies with respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin or in the administration of justice. State advisory committees The USCCR has 51 state advisoiy eommittees, one for eaeh state and the District of Columbia. Eaeh is composed of citizens familiar with loeal and state civil rights issues. The committees assist the USCCR with fact finding, investigative and information dissemination. Watch carefully, as majority members presently attempt to use HISAC as a tool against Hawaiian recognition and as a tool to dismantle other civil rights and related resources, such as the U.S. Census data collection and reporting. Four concerns will be tracked: 1. Will the USCCR provide the public with the specific selection criteria and procedures used to recommend HISAC members for USCCR approval? 2. Will the USCCR document how HISAC selection criteria and procedures are not biased, and were the same selection criteria and procedures applied to eaeh state advisory committee re-chartered in 2006 and 2007? 3. Can the USCCR demonstrate that HISAC's composition reflects the people of Hawai'i? 4. Will future HISAC and USCCR agenda, actions and outcomes consistently document efforts to protect and promote all civil rights and related programs? Our civil rights, our native rights and the resources utihzed to promote, enforce and preserve them are critical to all of us. Be infoimed and active in protecting all our civil rights, visit www.usccr.gov and attend HISAC meetings. 33/48 ^

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