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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 Watch

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 the anti-lynching proclamation the commissioners adopted on September 10, which 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.

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.
  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.
  5. 10 Old Business: Anti-Lynching Proclamation Update
    Discussion item Civil rights and nondiscriminationPolice and public safety
    An update on the anti-lynching proclamation the Board of Commissioners adopted on September 10. 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, and 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.

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