Counties launch Know Your Rights webpages to support victims of discrimination, harassment

A new resource is available to residents who believe they may have been subjected to illegal discrimination or harassment.  

Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties have created the Know Your Rights and Resources webpage to provide links to national, state and local organizations that are working to fight discrimination in such areas as credit, education, employment, healthcare, housing, public accommodations and voting. A companion page is available through henrico.us. 

“It’s another example of regional cooperation to provide resources and information to our citizens who may feel vulnerable and may not know where to go,” said Monica Smith-Callahan, Henrico’s deputy county manager for community affairs. 

The idea for the webpages emerged from discussions among Henrico County Manager John A. Vithoulkas and other local administrators after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis renewed attention across the country on historical and systemic racism, Smith-Callahan said. 

Federal laws protect individuals from discrimination or harassment based on sex, race, age, disability, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and genetic information. Many institutions, including some in the region, work to educate people about the laws that protect them, advocate for their rights and legally challenge acts of discrimination. 

The Know Your Rights and Resources webpage also provides links to federal human rights laws enacted to shield federally protected classes from discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Fair Housing Act and more.