Panel to report on the state of civil rights

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Monday, Aug. 25, 2003 | 11:30 a.m.

The state arm of the federal agency charged with monitoring civil rights violations nationwide will be preparing a comprehensive report on civil rights in Nevada.

Friday's decision came out of a meeting of the committee advising the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The 12 members of the state committee said there's not enough information available about possible civil rights violations in Nevada.

"This is something we've failed to do -- assess what is going on in civil rights in a global manner," David Sanchez, chairman of the committee, said. "We've got a changing workforce and so many people moving in that this sort of information is needed."

Sanchez said the report would examine discrimination in the workplace, in the housing market and in police-community relations. It would also look into access to voting and monitor the application of the controversial post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism law, the USA Patriot Act.

"I admit it's a tall order," Sanchez said.

The committee is Nevada's link to a federal agency that has no punitive powers and such a low budget that meetings like Friday's are held via telephone instead of in person.

But the commission can investigate as well as hold public hearings and issue subpoenas on certain issues. It can also refer complaints to appropriate agencies, offer recommendations to state and local governments and submit reports to the president and Congress.

Sanchez said Nevada's committee has not held an in-depth investigation or issued a report "for at least eight years."

Paul Brown, Southern Nevada director for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada -- a nonprofit that advocates for civil rights and other issues statewide -- said he hadn't heard of the committee.

"It certainly doesn't have a high profile," he said.

Sanchez said the timeline for completing the report hadn't been established, but that he hoped to have an outline ready by the end of the year.

Committee member Tony Sanchez -- no relation to David Sanchez -- said the report's parameters still need to be defined, but a lack of time and resources will necessarily limit its scope.

"Still ... there's not much being done on these issues and this could serve as a catalyst for community involvement and change," said Tony Sanchez, who is also president of the Latin Chamber of Commerce.

Brown said the committee's project was needed for organizations such as his statewide.

"Nevada doesn't enjoy a good reputation when it comes to violations of civil rights," Brown said, pointing to the history of segregation and alleged civil rights violations in the '50s and '60s that led some to call Las Vegas "The Mississippi of the West."

"And the first step to solving a problem is examining the extent of the problem."