The City of Columbia Commission on Human Rights met yesterday to review the possible addition of new protected categories. Protected categories shield citizens from being discriminated against for reasons such as race, religion and sexual orientation. The commission agreed to send a memo to City Council proposing up to six new categories, including receipt of government assistance and refugee status.
Zach Rubin is chair of the Human Rights Commission. He says these categories would provide new city-based protections against discrimination.
“These would be additional categories for which someone could seek restitution if they are on the receiving end of discrimination. That they could do that at the city level because we would have those protections.”
Rubin will draft the memo and City Council will decide whether to act at a later meeting.
