Iowa Civil Rights Iowa Civil Rights CommissionCommission

Our Vision is a state free of Our Vision is a state free of discrimination.discrimination.

Our Mission is to enforce the Our Mission is to enforce the civil rights laws of Iowa.civil rights laws of Iowa.

What are Civil Rights?What are Civil Rights?

Civil RightsCivil Rights - Laws which protect you - Laws which protect you against against discriminationdiscrimination or or mistreatment.mistreatment. USA Civil Rights Act of 1964USA Civil Rights Act of 1964 Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965

DiscriminationDiscrimination – treating someone – treating someone differently because of who they are or differently because of who they are or what they look like.what they look like. Without knowing the personWithout knowing the person Based on misunderstandings/stereotypesBased on misunderstandings/stereotypes

ActivityActivity

What we know about lemons…What we know about lemons…

YellowYellow RoundRound ShinyShiny JuicyJuicy SourSour SmallSmall Grows on treesGrows on trees

What is special about your lemon?What is special about your lemon?How did you pick yours out?How did you pick yours out?

ShapeShape TextureTexture NameName SizeSize MarksMarks ColorsColors BumpsBumps

Some questions to think about…Some questions to think about…

How did you pick out your lemon?How did you pick out your lemon? Can you see differences in your lemon?Can you see differences in your lemon?

How did your thoughts change as we did How did your thoughts change as we did the activity?the activity? Did you think about all lemons the same way Did you think about all lemons the same way

before as you did about your lemon now?before as you did about your lemon now? Do you think your lemon has had the Do you think your lemon has had the

same “life” as all the other lemons? same “life” as all the other lemons? Why?Why? Scuffs, bumps, color, shapeScuffs, bumps, color, shape

What does this have to do with Civil What does this have to do with Civil Rights?Rights?

Sometimes people make snap judgments Sometimes people make snap judgments about other people. about other people. HurtfulHurtful UnfairUnfair IncorrectIncorrect

Everyone is different and has had different Everyone is different and has had different “lives” that make them who they are.“lives” that make them who they are.

Everyone deserves equal treatment and Everyone deserves equal treatment and respect. All people have value as humans.respect. All people have value as humans. Civil RightsCivil Rights

Why is this important?Why is this important?

We have not always had the rights we We have not always had the rights we have todayhave today

Many people have had a very difficult Many people have had a very difficult fight to get equality and respect. fight to get equality and respect.

People stood up to unfair treatment, and People stood up to unfair treatment, and fought for equal rights and freedom from fought for equal rights and freedom from discrimination.discrimination. Bravery/CourageBravery/Courage Think for themselvesThink for themselves Cared for othersCared for others

What it was like…What it was like…

• 13th Amendment – Freeing Slaves

• 14th Amendment – Equal Rights for All

• 15th Amendment – Voting Rights for All

It passes on…It passes on…

It becomes a movement…It becomes a movement…

• USA Civil Rights Act – 1964

• Iowa Civil Rights Act - 1965

Your rights todayYour rights today

Protected relationships called “areas”Protected relationships called “areas” EmploymentEmployment

Getting hired at a jobGetting hired at a job HousingHousing

Renting a house or apartmentRenting a house or apartment Public AccommodationPublic Accommodation

Restaurants, hospitals, bathrooms, parksRestaurants, hospitals, bathrooms, parks EducationEducation CreditCredit

Getting a loanGetting a loan

List of protected characteristics List of protected characteristics called “bases”called “bases”

RaceRace ColorColor Creed (Beliefs)Creed (Beliefs) National Origin (Country)National Origin (Country) ReligionReligion GenderGender Sexual Orientation/Gender IdentitySexual Orientation/Gender Identity PregnancyPregnancy Physical/Mental DisabilityPhysical/Mental Disability AgeAge Family (Kids)Family (Kids) Whether you are marriedWhether you are married

What this means for the futureWhat this means for the future

Remember what people in the past didRemember what people in the past did Courage, selflessness, individualityCourage, selflessness, individuality

Stand up for equality and respectStand up for equality and respect Snap judgments can be hurtful and are Snap judgments can be hurtful and are

wrong and unfairwrong and unfair Everyone comes from different places Everyone comes from different places

and has different lives. All people and has different lives. All people deserve equal treatment and respect.deserve equal treatment and respect.

Making a difference.Making a difference.

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.“

-- Robert Kennedy

DREAMS

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow.

-- Langston Hughes