CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Human Rights Commission recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of the West Virginia Human Rights Act, a statute prohibiting employment and public discrimination based on factors including race, religion, age and disability.
The commission held a presentation last week regarding the signing of the West Virginia Human Rights Act and its importance in West Virginia.
“The truth is we’ve come a long way, but we still have a long ways to go,” said Rev. Darrell Cummings, the West Virginia Human Rights Commission’s chairman.
Cummings spoke about the commission’s ongoing efforts, including work with local human rights bodies on municipal laws as well as employment and housing agencies on addressing discrimination.
“Each brick is important to this wall of justice,” he added.
Gov. Jim Justice, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., also spoke during the event.
“We have done so much, so good, and yet there is still so much to do, is there not?” Justice said. “We still have the ball dropped here and there, and we still have a lot to do. As we go forward, we want to continue to work to when there’s a day when we all realize we’re one and the same.”
April was Fair Housing Month across the country in recognition of the federal Fair Housing Act being signed in 1968.