PHRC Visits Charleroi To Foster Cooperation

December 19, 2024 2:13 am

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission stopped by in Charleroi on Wednesday to conduct one of their “No Hate In Our State” town hall meetings. Members of the PHRC, local government and two activist organizations participated in a round table discussion on how to foster community and eliminate hate among varied community groups. Chad Dion Lassiter, Executive Director of the PHRC feels that community comes from within. Everyone knows inside of them the type of community in which they wish to live. They just need to live those values. Charleroi Borough Manager Joe Manning stated that one can not simply enact policies to diminish hate. He said that people need to elect officials that will lead the community in the type of society that they wish to live. Emily Holmes is the State Program Officer for Common Ground USA. She says that community gatherings attended by all groups are necessary to foster understanding, “it is hard to hate someone that you are having dinner with.” An audience participation segment spurred divergent opinions. John Lunt a Charleroi business owner feels that immigrants, Haitians in particular, are handed everything to them, especially drivers licenses. Jimmy Alexandre operates the Haitian Resource Center and he said his organization is looking to develop real relationships with residents of Charleroi. Borough Councilman Larry Celaschi indicated that information about the meeting was not well disseminated. He also pointed out that he would prefer that a panel be more diverse including members of the business community, residents and members of the minority communities. Prior to the meeting, information was released that up to 100 protestors would be at the meeting. Those protestors never showed.