As a task force hammers out final details on creating an ordinance for a new Royal Oak human rights commission, the city will move to accept applications from people who want to serve on the new body in the fall.
Susan Barkman, assistant to the city manager and member of the human rights commission (HRC) task force, updated the City Commission at its meeting Monday night.
But the need to establish a rights commission was discussed Monday against the backdrop of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed a woman’s right to an abortion for nearly 50 years. Tuesday afternoon, a couple of hundred people participated in a march in the downtown area decrying the ruling.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion overturning Roe v. Wade that the Supreme Court should use the same reasoning to overturn other established rights, including same-sex marriage.
“We know that LGBTQ rights are next,” Rachel Andrews, another member of the HRC task force, told city commissioners.
While that remains to be seen, others Monday alluded to the Supreme Court decision and its impact.
“There’s a lot of momentum right now with rights and getting (the HRC) going,” said City Commissioner Melanie Macey. “I’m hearing a lot of people want to join.”
Another member of the task force is LaKeesha Morrision, an ancestor of the first black family in Royal Oak in the 19th Century.
“I’m upset … that our country is so upset and torn when it shouldn’t be,” Morrison told city commissioners. “We speak of diversity, but we are far from seeing each other as humans.”
Though Royal Oak’s proposed HRC would be limited to receiving discrimination complaints in the city, the recent Supreme Court decision is spurring debates about human rights nationwide. A majority of Royal Oak voters cast ballots for Democrats in local, state and national elections.
Barkman said Tuesday the city will advertise for HRC applicants in September or October.
The first and second reading of the proposed HRC ordinance is expected to go before the City Commission in July, she said
Berkley councilman faces backlash over opposition to pride block party comments
It remains to be determined whether the HRC will be a ballot question, and city commissioners were split on how many members the new body should have.
Statewide, 27 other cities have human rights commissions, including such as Detroit, Ann Arbor, Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale.
City Commission Kyle DuBbuc called for the city to establish its own human rights commission in June 2020 following the police-involved murder of George Floyd.
DuBuc said Monday that creating the city’s HRC “is more important than ever.”
Royal Oak voters passed a human rights ordinance in 2013. It prohibits discrimination based age, race, sex, sexual orientation, income and other characteristics in employment, housing, education, or public accommodations and services. Violations are a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Royal Oak, other cities, crack down on early Woodward cruisers
The ordinance being recommended to Royal Oak city commissioners would give HRC members the ability to receive and review complaints from people alleging violations of the city human rights ordinance and refer complaints to state civil rights commission or other agencies, including police and the city attorney.
The task force suggested the HRC have a total of 11 members, with two of them non-voting. At least five voting members are suggested to be city residents, while the other four voting members may be filled by applicants such as a business owner, employee of a business located or property owner in Royal Oak.
Some city commissioners thought the HRC should be smaller, consisting of seven or nine members.
Task force member Lisa Mason said a smaller number was considered, but rejected in favor of a larger membership.
“A concern about this is to make sure (the HRC) is diverse,” Mason said, “and Royal Oak is not diverse” in its population.
Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade; states can ban abortion
