Комиссия по правам человека Фэрмонта обсудила поддержку жителей и борьбу с дискриминацией

Fairmont Human Rights Commission focuses on community support FAIRMONT , W.Va (WDTV) - The Fairmont Human Rights Commission met Wednesday at the Marion County Chamber of Commerce for its monthly meeting, where members discussed ongoing efforts to help residents navigate issues involving discrimination, housing concerns and access to essential resources. Members of the commission say they routinely connect people with agencies or organizations that can step in when problems arise. “Basically, we provide resources for people who need advice about, you know, how to deal with certain situations, dealing with human rights of all sorts,” said Cindy Straight, chairman of the Fairmont Human Rights Commission. Commission role and city council involvement The commission does not have enforcement power, but it does raise concerns to city leaders when necessary. Members say they occasionally attend council meetings and speak publicly when they believe discrimination or inequity needs to be addressed. “We have made statements on certain issues to the city council when we have found that there has been some discrimination or issues that we feel very strongly about,” Straight said. The group also hosts guest speakers, participates in community held events and works to educate the public on human rights related topics. Priorities for the rest of the year Member James Spadafore spoke about the commission’s priorities for the near future. “The remainder of this year, I would say just keep monitoring on, you know, any issues that we’ve had brought to us and keep our ears open for anything else that comes up,” Spadafore said. Meetings are open to the public both in person and online. The commission meets every fourth Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Marion County Chamber of Commerce. Residents interested in serving on the commission can apply through the City of Fairmont’s website when openings become available. Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video. Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.