COUNTY — The public is invited to attend a virtual presentation, “Understanding Your Rights Under the New Jersey LawAgainst Discrimination,” also known as the LAD, to learn more about this law, which is one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the country.
The presentation by the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights will be held virtually on Tuesday, June 4, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., in partnership with the Union County Human Relations Commission (UCHRC). The presentation will address the rights andprotectionsNewJerseyresidentshave under the Law Against Discrimination, and how someone who has been discriminated against can file a complaint.
Pre-registration is required. Register online at bit.ly/UCHRCPresentsNJDCR. Registrants will receive a ZOOM link to log onto the presentation.
“It is vital for all residents to understand this law, their individual rights, and how the New Jersey’s Division on Civil Rights can assist with hearing and investigating their complaints,” said Linda Weissbrod,Co-ChairoftheUnionCounty Human Relations Commission.
“When these rights have been violated, it is important for New Jersey residents to file a complaint and to look to prosecute those who violate the law,” she added.
The Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination and bias-based harassment based on many protected classes in employment (including labor unions and employment agencies), housing (include housing providers and realtors), and places of public accommodation (generally, places open to the public, including businesses, restaurants, schools, summer camps, medical providers, government offices and agencies, among others.)
This discrimination is prohibited based on actual or perceived bias, including race or color; religion or creed; national origin, nationality, or ancestry; sex, pregnancy, or breastfeeding; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; disability; marital status or domestic partnership/ civil union status; liability for military service.
In housing, protected status also includes familial status and source of lawful income used for rental or mortgage payments.
In employment, it also includes age, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, the refusal to submit to a genetic test, or make available to an employer the results of a genetic test.
UCHRC Co-Chair Chanell Johnson said that “the law means, for example, that a leasing agent cannot refuse to rent an apartment to a person because the person is, or is perceived to be, Muslim, Asian, Jewish, or a member of any other protected class, or a real estate agent cannot decline to show listings to, say, a Black family in a particular neighborhood.”
“They also cannot retaliate against a person for exercising or attempting to exercise their rights under the LAD,” she added.
Anyone who believes their rights under the LAD have been violated may file a complaint with the Division of Civil Rights. The presenter will explain the process of filing a complaint through the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System and discuss steps to take when experiencingdiscriminationorbias-based harassment.
DCR materials will be provided, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
The presentation is being presented in partnership with the Union County Human Relations Commission. The mission of the Union County Human Relations Commission is to actively encourage, develop, promote, and strengthen respect for human rights and cultural diversity among the people of Union County, while working to eradicate prejudice, bias, and hate from our school, workplaces,andneighborhoods.Formore information about the Commission, visit www.ucnj.org/uchrc.
