Hingham Now has a Human Rights Commission

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The newly established Human Rights Commission represents the town's commitment to supporting the ability of all individuals in town "to enjoy the free and equal exercise of their rights and privileges as secured by the Constitution and Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of the United States and to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Town of Hingham."
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The Select Board recently voted to approve the Hingham Unity Council-proposed initiative. HUC Board Member Courtney Orwig called this "an important step toward ensuring that all who live, work, study, and worship here feel safe and welcome."

​Select Board member Liz Klein worked on this HUC-proposed initiative with Orwig, HUC members Katie Sutton and Andrew Turner, Town Administrator Tom Mayo, and Town Counsel John Coughlin prior to the unanimous vote.

"This is an important step as we create a welcoming and inclusive community and is very much aligned with the community vision outlined in the Master Plan as well as the recommended action to create a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee," Klein said.  

The initiative -- which will not require town funding -- stems from the fact that over the past years, the HUC has heard directly and indirectly of incidents of bias in Hingham; studied the need for, and potential structure of, a Human Rights Commission in Hingham; and met with representatives of Human Rights Commissions through the state to learn about their experiences and initiatives.

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