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HRC Monthly

Orange County · Human Relations Commission
Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Regular meeting Civil rights and nondiscriminationHealth and human servicesHistoric preservationHousing and affordabilityImmigration and enforcementPolice and public safety

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved 11New Business/Announcements: October-December Events and Proclamations Motion to review and edit the ICE proclamation draft carried 6-0

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Orange County's Human Relations Commission meets Tuesday with a draft proclamation on immigration enforcement in its packet. The draft would have the county commissioners declare that county funds, buildings and staff will not assist civil federal immigration enforcement, and it argues that fear of ICE operations keeps residents from seeking medical care or calling for help. The commission advises the commissioners; it does not adopt proclamations itself.

The other action item is an update on the Blackwood Farms commemorative marker, with a dedication event set for October 17. Under old business the commission takes up an anti-lynching proclamation. The packet carries it as a Board of Commissioners item dated September 10, recommended for approval with the chair's signature line blank. It names four North Carolina deaths since 2024 and asks that hanging deaths get independent autopsies and full evidence sharing with families before any public finding. Subcommittees report on a first housing event, provisionally November 14, and on building a contact list of local non-profits.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The commission put off two of its own events and moved its immigration proclamation toward a final draft. Members voted to push the Blackwood Farms marker dedication to February, though staff reported the monument itself is to be installed on 7 October. They also put the first housing panel on hold until winter or spring. The community events subcommittee said another group has already done similar work and it wants to build partnerships first. Members voted to review and edit the draft proclamation on ICE, and Shane Lukas is to bring a final version.

The commission reviewed three applications for its open seats and noted that Cassie Rice had resigned. Under follow-up, the minutes list the anti-lynching proclamation as drafted and to be added to a Board of Commissioners agenda. Nobody spoke at public comment. Six of seven members attended, and the meeting ended at 7:07 p.m.

How the votes went

August 25 minutes approved on a motion by Dr. Cory Hogans, seconded by Tonya Jones. Housing panel put on hold to winter-spring, 6-0 (Hogans, Wendy Calvin). Blackwood Farms dedication moved to February, 6-0 (Jones, Calvin). Review and edit of the ICE proclamation draft, 6-0 (Calvin, Hogans). Commissioner Brandon Loor Intriago was absent.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

No members of the public spoke.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.

Speaking at this meeting

Orange County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (6)

Staff or committee report · 2Discussion item · 2Procedural · 1Proclamation or recognition · 1
  1. 5 Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)
    Procedural
    Ten minutes for comment on human relations, civil rights and community conditions. The agenda asks speakers not to give identifying details about an active complaint or investigation, and says the chair may redirect a speaker who does.
  2. 6 County Update: Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life
    Staff or committee report Civil rights and nondiscrimination
    Paul Slack, director of the Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life, gives the county update.
  3. 7 Action Item: Blackwood Farms Marker Update
    Discussion item Historic preservation
    An update on the Blackwood Farms commemorative marker. A subcommittee is finishing operational planning and partner outreach for the dedication event on October 17.
    Dedication moved to February, 6-0
  4. 9 Sub-Committee Reports
    Staff or committee report Housing and affordability
    Outreach and Engagement reports on standardized messaging explaining the commission's purpose and partnership criteria, and on an initial contact list of local non-profits. Community Events is due to lock in the parameters, logistics and November 14 date for the commission's first housing event.
    Housing panel put on hold to winter-spring, 6-0
  5. 10 Old Business: Anti-Lynching Proclamation Update
    Discussion item Civil rights and nondiscriminationPolice and public safety
    An update on the anti-lynching proclamation, which the packet carries as a Board of Commissioners item for September 10 with the chair's signature line blank. It names the 2026 deaths of Juliana Umba Nzita in Charlotte and Demetrius Fleming in Roanoke Rapids, Mario Kaiser Jr. in Charlotte in 2025, and Javion MaGee in Vance County in 2024. It calls on law enforcement and medical examiners to hold off on public findings in hanging deaths until independent autopsies are complete and evidence has been shared with families.
  6. 11 New Business/Announcements: October-December Events and Proclamations
    Proclamation or recognition Civil rights and nondiscriminationHealth and human servicesImmigration and enforcement
    The packet carries a draft proclamation on immigration enforcement for the Board of Commissioners. It would declare that county funds, facilities and personnel are reserved for local public health, safety and community services and will not be used to assist civil federal immigration enforcement, on the ground that fear of ICE operations deters residents from seeking medical care or reporting emergencies. The commission also plans its October through December events.
    Motion to review and edit the ICE proclamation draft carried 6-0

Agenda changes

What moved between published versions of this agenda. Item numbers shift constantly as things are inserted, so only genuine additions and removals are listed.

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