(NAME-MCE) Connecticut Needs Your Help - legislation to make multicultural education a requirement for teacher training

[Bill Howe]

I am writing you as a private citizen. There are actually TWO issues we need
your help on.

#1. This year, I was approached by both the CT African Affairs Commission
and the Latino & Puerto Rican Affairs Commission seeking my technical
assistance. Both commissions together are trying to introduce legislation to
make multicultural education a requirement for teacher training. Together,
with about a dozen wonderful NAME members here in Connecticut, we met with
their legislative analysts to answer questions about definitions, myths,
models, etc.

Unfortunately they have not been successful getting legislative sponsorship
for the bill. I have been working with a great guy named Frank Sykes who is
going to testify before a committee on this. He very much needs letters of
support but especially citations, statistics, etc supporting the efficacy of
a multicultural curriculum. Please help by emailing Frank directly at the
address below. This is a short legislative session so time is of the
essence. Thank you.
Franklin Sykes
*Legislative Analyst II
*African Affairs Commission
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue, Room 509
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 240-8555
Fax: (860) 240-8444
email: frank.sykes at cga.ct.gov



 #2. Frank will also be testifying on behalf of this new legislation which
specifically addresses the display of a noose as a violation of CT state
hate crimes legislation. Your letters - emails- to Frank in support of this
bill would be greatly appreciated. The hearing is MONDAY, MARCH 17 so please
try to get your letters of support for both issues in by Friday. Thanks.


CT General Assembly  Raised Bill No. 604
February Session, 2008  LCO No. 2657

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Introduced by:  (JUD)
AN ACT CONCERNING HATE CRIMES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly
convened:

Section 1. Section 46a-58 of the 2008 supplement to the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October
1, 2008):
(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section for
any person to subject, or cause to be subjected, any other person to the
deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities, secured or protected by
the Constitution or laws of this state or of the United States, on account
of religion, national origin, alienage, color, race, sex, sexual
orientation, blindness or physical disability.
(b) Any person who intentionally desecrates any public property, monument or
structure, or any religious object, symbol or house of religious worship, or
any cemetery, or any private structure not owned by such person, shall be in
violation of subsection (a) of this section. For the purposes of this
subsection, "desecrate" means to mar, deface or damage as a demonstration of
irreverence or contempt.
(c) Any person who places a burning cross or a simulation thereof on any
public property, or on any private property without the written consent of
the owner, shall be in violation of subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Any person who places a noose or a simulation thereof on any public
property, or on any private property without the written consent of the
owner, and with intent to intimidate or harass any other person on account
of religion, national origin, alienage, color, race, sex, sexual
orientation, blindness or physical disability, shall be in violation of
subsection (a) of this section.
[(d)] (e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be
guilty of a class A misdemeanor, except that if property is damaged as a
consequence of such violation in an amount in excess of one thousand
dollars, such person shall be guilty of a class D felony.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1October 1, 200846a-58
Statement of Purpose:
To make it a discriminatory practice and a crime to hang a noose on public
or private property with intent to intimidate or harass another person.