VANDERBURGH CO., IN (WFIE) -
A Vanderburgh County Council member is working to get the funding reinstated for the Human Relations Commission.
This comes after Vanderburgh County Commissioners voted to cut its funding to the HRC by 20%.
County Councilwoman Stephanie Terry tells 14 News that Wednesday morning she will push to get that funding back in the budget, and the money back in the hands of the organization and people who need it.
Some believe the Human Relations Commission, an organization that fights discrimination, is being discriminated against itself.
"The city has put its money in. Now the county should put its money in," said Rev. Phil Hoy.
Rev. Gerald Arnold of the NAACP said,"It's $10,000 today. Maybe $20,000 tomorrow."
During a news conference outside the Civic Center, several people opposed to the county commission's plan to reduce funding to the HRC say the organization is being unjustly singled out if money is suddenly taken out of its budget.
Gary May/Veteran's for Peace "That's a message that says some people in our community are not as important as other people. We can't have that," Gary May with Veteran's for Peace said.
Monica Davis says she has arthritis, making it difficult to walk. She brought pictures showing local areas she can't go to just because, she says, she has a disability.
"Could you ride a wheelchair down through here? Could you take a walker or cane down through here? I tried and almost broke my neck," Davis said. "This is what the Human Relations Commission does on a local basis. It advocates for the civil rights and for the human rights of those who cannot advocate for themselves."
She fears if any more funding is cut from the HRC's budget, those like her who may need to file a discrimination complaint won't be able to do so locally.
Davis said, "Getting on a bus, going all the way up to Indianapolis to make a complaint? They used to call me the Greyhound Queen. I don't drive. I roll on the dog, and I can tell you the dog ain't cheap."
County commissioners have said the reason for the cuts is because the agency does most of its work in the city and not the county. The county council has the final say on the budget cuts.
We'll keep you updated.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
Some believe the Human Relations Commission, an organization that fights discrimination, is being discriminated against itself.
