Mayor Vincent C. Gray to Swear in Members of District’s Commission on Human Rights

WHAT/WHO:      Mayor Vincent C. Gray will administer the oath of office to newly appointed Commissioners of the DC Commission on Human Rights. The Commission on Human Rights adjudicates private-sector discrimination complaints brought by District residents, employees, or visitors under the provisions of the DC Human Rights Act in the areas of employment, housing, education and public accommodations.

WHEN:                     Wednesday, July 11, 2012
                                5:00 pm

WHERE:                    John A. Wilson Building

                                 Mayor’s Ceremonial Office (Room 507)

                                 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW

BACKGROUND:     Administrative law judges conduct hearings on behalf of the Commission in cases where “probable cause” of violations has been found by the Office of Human Rights.  A tribunal of three commissioners serves as the ultimate decision-maker in these cases.  If the Commission finds discrimination, it can impose monetary damages or other remedies afforded by one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the country – the DC Human Rights Act. The commissioners were nominated by Mayor Gray on April 26 and approved by the DC Council on June 5. The 13 commissioners are: Nkechi Taifa (Chairperson), Motoko Aizawa, Javier Araujo, Alexandra Beninda, Earline Budd, Rahim Jenkins, Mathew McCollough, Edwin Powell, Denise Reed, JD Robinson, Gabriel Rojo, David Scruggs and Michael Ward.