HRC Under Fire (Fresno Mayor expects litigation as a result of HRC smear of FR?)

KFSN-TV ^ | September 14, 2003

[Timesink]

HRC Under Fire

A pair of controversies could mean double the debate inside Fresno city council chambers this week, while a special city commission and some council members are feeling the heat.

A lot of the political tension has centered around an upsetting e-mail, and more recently, a news release that calls a local conservative organization a, "hate group."

Now, the future of Fresno's Human Relations Committee is on the line.

Fresno mayor Alan Autry went on TV for "Ask The Mayor," but Autry says he has questions of his own for the city's Human Relations Commission.

It sent out a news release about rallies planned by the "Free Republic," Calling the local conservative organization a hate group.

Now, Autry wants the HRC out of commission, at least for now, "I'm going to do my best to suspend operations until we find out who thought it appropriate to send out a release with city staff ... to call a group a hate group."

The HRC's chairwoman, Debbie Reyes wasn't available for an interview. But, in a written statement, Reyes said, "The intention of the alert was to merely alert the public to say away from a potentially volatile situation."

Still, Autry says the HRC release was irresponsible, "Factor that in with the fact that you spend $193,000 to fund this, liability issues, litigation ... all of those things come into play."

Council president Tom Boyajian supports the HRC, "It was bad information ... they should've done their homework ... but I don't think that warrants wiping out the Human Relations Commission."

Boyajian may also butt heads with conservatives at city hall on another issue. As Action News first reported, he'll present a resolution Tuesday regarding council members conduct. This, after Jerry Duncan wrote what some considered a threateing e-mail about the Human Relations Commission.

Duncan declined to comment Sunday, but he has apologized for the e-mail.

Boyajian says his resolution will not go so far as to officially censure Duncan. He says legally, the council can't force Duncan to resign.

Boyajian will suggest a possible seminar to improve sensitivity to minority groups.

[muawiyah]

"his"? This is about some woman with her panties in a knot isn't it?

[Libertina]

It seems this appointed commission is out of control. Shut them down now, before they really start trouble.

[Libertina]

I don't live in CA, but I am a member of a minority group which has been slandered. I want justice!

[Jim Robinson]

"Just to be on the safe side, ban me and delete all my comments.;-)"

Are you serious? You really want your account nuked?

[Humidston]

Jim, if there's any mention on the news, please post us a link so we can see it too?

Fresno Human Rights Commission - A group of clipboard-clutching, sanctimonious, nosey liberals who claim they know best how to determine "hate speech" in the community.

[eddie willers]

Good one :o)

[Little Bill]

Hey 'Pod lets start a fund for the suit, I will give $500 as seed money.

[Humidston]

Why not call in the ACLU? BWAAAHAHAHA!

[fatima]

"Council president Tom Boyajian supports the HRC, "It was bad information ... they should've done their homework ... but I don't think that warrants wiping out the Human Relations Commission."
Wipe them out,use some windex,cures everything.

[tpaine]

Thanks eddie.. I was starting to wonder if anyone cared...

[auboy]

No sir. My attempt at humor was in poor taste. I know this is a serious issue. Sorry.

[Jim Robinson]

Oops. Too late. Already nuked (just kidding).

[MarkL]

I wrote an email to the mayor, letting him know that I was going to be coming to CA for a vacation next month, and that I had planned to visit Fresno for two days, primarily to see Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. Now, I'm going to suspend my vacation until this January, and spend it in Las Vegas, where they'll be performing. I just wanted him to know that this HRC stunt cost the city of Fresno two nights of hotel taxes, food taxes, and sales taxes. And it cost the state of California and it's economy a week's worth of tourist dollars. Probably well over $1300. Pretty expensive, just for insulting one person (me!)

Mark

[Ronin]

Me too. I was wondering how I had missed a war between Hillary and Free Republic.

[Porterville]

There are many, many, coservatives in the Central Valley...

[Little Bill]

I have been trying to get the "Boston Globe" to mention FR by name for 2.5 years now, I think we stand a better chance with the Globe.

[MarkL]

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't this libel?

No. No more than someone here calling the ACLU or NAACP a hate group.

Actually, I'm not so sure of that...

Remember, that the term "Hate Group" has specific legal meanings, due to the hate crime legislation that has passed. Now if you or I call the ADL or the NAACP a "hate group," we're (probably) OK. But when a governmental organization makes this statement publicly, using the aegis of a government agency, then it may very well be actionable.

Remember, this twit sent out a press release to local media, from an official agency of the city, declaring that FR is a hate group, using the seal of the City of Fresno!

Mark

[Ronin]

Send them some pictures of the Fresno BBQ picnic. I hate to say it, but I have never seen a more harmless and lovable bunch of geezers, er... seasoned citizens... er...

Nevermind...

[MarkL]

Debbie Reyes has come under fire for sending out a news release last Friday warning that rallies on Friday and Saturday by the Free Republic could include violence. It said the Human Relations Commission says references to violence on the groups’ website have since been deleted but they haven’t been lost.

Voice of Debbie Reyes-

“Apparently they have been saved- uh, there are people out there that have them on a hard disk and they are making copies as we speak right now, for me”.

Reporter: And Reyes says their saved web pages include threats against others who might show up at the rallies. She quotes one page as saying – we are going to have our guns full- and the message goes on to add that bullets are two bucks apiece and it might not be worth wasting them on liberals.

And I hope that people here have the postings from the Anarchist and leftist sites that urge their readers to create accounts and "disrupt" FreeRepublic.

Mark

[in the Arena]

"Factor that in with the fact that you spend $193,000

You know you've pushed someone's buttons when they take a $193,000 dump to try and ruin your day...of course, it wasn't their money...