CC Minutes - 01/24/00 Work Session

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Ms. Lefkowith said the system was not working as well as it could, and white supremacists were not being penalized in a manner commensurate with their activities. She cited examples of ways in which the system was failing, which included the failure of those responsible for running the system to understand the significance of the crimes involved. Police Chief Jim Hill introduced Sergeant Chuck Tilby, who discussed the environment in Oregon and Lane County for neo-Nazi and white supremacist skinhead street gangs. Sergeant Tilby described the crimes of white supremacists and neo-Nazis as terroristic in nature because they were focused on the psychology, well-being, and feeling of safety of targeted members of the community. The level of activity by such gangs tended to be cyclical because the involved individuals were in and out of jail or supervision. He said that local skinhead groups were networked with white supremacists groups throughout the Northwest and the country. Sergeant Tilby agreed with Ms. Lefkowith that the soon-to-be released inmates serving time for hate crimes would create a sharp increase in such crimes in the future after their supervision had ended. Sergeant Tilby concurred with Ms. Lefkowith about the importance of the Internet to the white supremacist groups in getting their message out. The Internet reached many people and it was easy to present a professional-appearing message using that tool. Chief Hill introduced Captain Roy Brown, Captain Pat Ryan, and Sergeant Kathy Flynn of the Eugene Police Department, who were involved in the department's work on bias crimes and who were also present to respond to questions. Chief Hill discussed the Eugene Police Department's response to hate crimes, reporting that the police dispatched an officer in response to every report of a bias crime. The officers followed carefully developed procedures in their response, which included ensuring that the victim knows about all the resources available to him/her, such as the Victims Assistance Program. The department also conducts a neighborhood canvass, which heightens community awareness of such events and lets people know the department takes such reports very seriously. An investigator was assigned to each case for follow-up, which included maintaining contact with the victim. Chief Hill said that in addition, the department works with organizations such as Ms. Lefkowith's and attends community events. Ms. Lefkowith said that she and Chief Hill had discussed the possibility of Eugene holding a statewide hate crimes symposium. She encouraged the council to become involved in the symposium if it occurred. She said that a draft of possible events had been developed. Ms. Lefkowith said that the commission also discussed working collaboratively with other community groups on an anti-hate campaign. Willie Blasher, Jr., of the Human Rights Commission said that the commission was seeking to amend its work plan to develop a community education campaign, which would require $10,000 to fund. He asked the council for its continued support of the commission as it carried out the work plan. Mr. Blasher said that as a minority, he recognized that the community still had a way to go in overcoming hate, and it would take a heartfelt and concerted effort on the part of all citizens to do so. He asked the council for its leadership on the issue. Ms. Middleton reviewed the actions requested of the council: First, to take a stand against hate and work to fight it and raise awareness. She suggested the City could work to create awareness about the issue with the business community, specifically the Chamber of Commerce, MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 24, 2000 Page 2 Work Session