An advocate’s work is never done.

This afternoon will mark the third consecutive year that I offer testimony at the Performance Oversight Hearing for the DC Office of Human Rights. Once again I will be joined by DC organizations and victim’s rights groups appealing to the Committee of Government Operations and Facilities for reform of the DC agency tasked with protecting the rights of District residents. I hope that our words finally move the council to act.

YOU CAN WATCH THE HEARING HERE.

Due to the lack of oversight, accountability, transparency, urgency, and frankly, leadership, the DC Office of Human Rights continues to fail DC residents who come to them for help. I would know, I’ve spent nearly the past three years winding through OHR’s slow, challenging and discouraging process. That’s not an editorial, those are facts.

A former colleague and I first contacted the DC Office of Human Rights in the Spring of 2018 to assist us with charges against Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR), the Ward 8 nonprofit behind THEARC, and the 11th Street Bridge Park. During my three years at BBAR, I experienced sexual harassment, discrimination, threats of violence, and retaliation when I dared to assert my rights or protect the rights and safety of those around me. If you want to learn more about my experience as Building Bridges Across the River’s Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, YOU CAN READ MY #METOO STATEMENT HERE.

Some areas that I plan on testifying today (most of which I have testified about the past three years) include:

• The neverending backlog of cases has victims waiting months for an intake appointment and then years for any progress or resolution to their cases. Defendants are aware of OHR’s deficiencies and are using that to their advantage.

• OHR’s practice of discouraging victims to file cases and/or limiting the number of charges they wish to file. When asked, OHR’s Director in the 2020 hearing stated that OHR limits claimants to two charges because of OHR’s limited bandwidth (they don’t have time to read more than two) and to make it “fair” to claimants who may not be represented by legal counsel.

• OHR’s practice of not accepting attorney-drafted charges (victims complaints) in favor of having overworked non-attorneys draft the complaints which are often not factual or incorrectly interpret the law.

• Having non-attorney staff members make legal assessments of which they are not qualified.

• The lack of adequate funding and staffing for OHR to fulfill their many mandates. The DC Council keeps adding to OHR’s list of responsibilities despite the fact OHR is unable (or unwilling) to adhere to the statutory requirements.

• The lack of factual and/or updated information on OHR’s website. A review of the past decisions page on OHR’s website lists eight cases from 2011 and one case from 2013. Victims and their attorneys are being deprived of a valuable tool to assist them in filing their cases and Respondents guilty of violating civil rights laws are able to continue to violate the law without public scrutiny or consequences.

• The need for new and improved leadership at the DC Office of Human Rights. Monica Palacio served as OHR’s Director for six years before resigning in January 2020 in an unsuccessful bid for an At-Large seat on the DC Council. Although Mayor Bowser’s administration advertised the vacancy for nearly a year a replacement was not hired (and Ms. Palacio was reinstalled as the Acting Director earlier this year pending council confirmation. There is a public roundtable on March 26th regarding Ms. Palacio’s reappointment of which I plan to testify in opposition.

• The need for the DC Auditor to conduct an investigation into OHR’s effectiveness with a concentration on the time it takes for claimants to go through the intake process to have their cases settled. The DC Auditor should also provide a detailed accounting for the number of cases still outstanding at OHR. While I have waited nearly three years for justice in my case, other DC residents have been waiting for five years or more.

Why do I do this? Because it needs to be done. I implore anyone with an interest in equality and equity to take a moment and stand up for your rights and the rights of others. If not now, when?

PERFORMANCE OVERSIGHT HEARING ON THE DC OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Friday, March 05, 2021 @ 12:00 pm
The Committee on Government Operations & Facilities will hold a Performance Oversight Hearing.

The following agencies will testify:

• Office of Risk Management

• Office of Human Rights

• Commission for Human Rights

• Advisory Committee on Street Harassment

Watch:

– On the Council site, at https://bit.ly/2ooL0l1
– On the OCTFME site, at https://bit.ly/2JNZIro
– On TV, usually Channel 13