Forum discusses ending discrimination in Schuylkill County
Jul. 30—MAHANOY CITY — Community members and county officials came together for a "Time to Talk" forum Thursday discussing how to address discrimination and racism in the county.
Jesus Carmona, of New Minersville, said he wanted to start discussions about discrimination in the community to protect future generations from experiencing what he said other Latinos have faced.
"We, as Latinos, have faced and seen discrimination," Carmona said. "We are trying to stop the cycle."
County authority figures were invited to be part of a panel to listen to the shared experiences and discuss possible solutions.
The panel included Joseph G. Groody, Schuylkill County sheriff; Michael A. O'Pake, Schuylkill County district attorney; James G. Conville, attorney and candidate for county judge; Todd Zimmerman, Schuylkill County Democratic Committee secretary; Thomas McCabe, Mahanoy City Borough Council president; and Rosaury Paez, Mahanoy City Borough police code clerk.
The Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services provided space for the forum in the Mahanoy City Senior Community Center.
Carmona said he has lived in the county for 30 years and has faced discrimination in the community, at work and in stores, hospitals and government offices.
In one example, Carmona said a white supremacist symbol was drawn on a piece of equipment he used at work. When Carmona told his supervisors, their response was to tell the employees that the company policy prohibits people from drawing on company property.
"That's the company policy on discrimination?" Carmona said, adding that the company never completed an investigation on the incident.
Carmona said he always tries to focus on solutions when problems arise. In this case, a solution would be to train management how to handle discrimination.
The first place to start is with children, Carmona said.
"If we teach children from a young age about different cultures, they can start to understand that we are all human beings, and we all have something to contribute," Carmona said.
Other solutions include voting in local and federal elections and expressing discontent to the right people, Carmona said.
"Voting is a right," Carmona said. "It lets people know who we are."
The key, Carmona said, is participation.
O'Pake emphasized the importance of voting and participation, but added that cooperation is also necessary.
"We all have to work together to stop discrimination," O'Pake said.
Conville said he hopes to see more people get involved with this initiative moving forward.
"Every tree begins with a seed," Conville said. "We've got to get the community involved."
Carmona said he plans to hold more forums and similar events in the future to continue the conversation.
"This is hopefully the first of many," Carmona said. "We want to make this the starting point. Make your voice be heard, and make your voice count."
