Tampa/Hillsborough Human Rights Coucil

I attended the Tampa/Hillsborough Human Rights Council meeting on September 8th at the Free Library in downtown Tampa. The organization holds a public meeting every other month. It was a very small meeting with only seven people in attendance.

The board and chapter members discussed several issues during the meeting. Much of the discussion regarded updates on projects such as their efforts to get a website launched soon, as well as their scholarship partnership with area schools and the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union. The issue that was most addressed was their upcoming annual breakfast celebrating 60 years of human rights. They are looking at bringing in a keynote speaker and honoring the scholarship recipients at this event. Aside from this, the treasurer announced that he would be stepping down in the near future and would like for the council to consider someone to replace his position.

I interviewed the Tampa chapter's president, Mr. Ahmed Bedier. Mr. Bedier is a civil rights activist who got involved with the organization through his work with the Council on Muslim Civil Rights Activity group. He said he started attending meetings regularly and eventually was voted in as the organizations president. In speaking with Mr. Bedier, I learned that the Tampa chapter is one of the oldest human rights organization in the state. The chapter has been around for 35 years and was started during in the 60's during the civil rights movement where human rights violations were occurring quite often. At a time where we have progressed from such frequent civil rights violations, the chapter focuses more on human rights education and prevention. President Bedier informed me that they work with many politicians in order to try and prevent human rights issues that arise from nothing more than bad laws, this is why they work to promote and educate people about human rights.

Deputy C.M. Devage, the Hillsborough county sheriff's office minority outreach coordinator was another one of the attendees at the meeting. She represents the sheriff, in his appointed seat. She works with organizations like this one in order to build the law enforcement's perspective among the people, and to ensure that it is not tainted. Both she and Mr. Bedier stressed that the organization is relevant because human rights affects everyone. Wanda Crosley Tyus, a Century 21 real estate agent was one of the board memebers of the meeting in attendance as well. She is the Secretary for the council and plays a large role in organizaing the annual breakfast, which is the Tampa chapters largest event all year.