Fargo Human Rights Commission condemns city commission for eliminating DEI Department

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — For the members of the Fargo Human Rights Commission, the decision made to eliminate the Diversity Equity and Inclusion department was the wrong move.

“For the mayor to go ahead and acknowledge that there was not a goal and then for us to be holding them accountable for not reaching for said imaginary goals is crazy,” said Ritchell Aboah, Human Rights Commission Member.

“Eliminating DEI does not satisfy your budget. Your budget is still going to have problems. So why not find creative ways…to generate revenue,” said Sekou Sirleaf, New Chair of the Human Rights Commission.

Members pointed out Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack’s desire to eliminate the department, but not concept of DEI in city departments.

“How possible is that? You know … we talking about a department, a department that has so much necessary that covers the entire city. This is not a departmental thing,” said Tambah Saah, Human Rights Commission Member.

The new chairman mentioned that he’s developing a website to fight back against the decision tp eliminate funding for the department. He says the website will be coming out before the November ballot.

The head of the D-E-I program, Dr. Terry Hogan, was also present at the meeting.

He has not commented yet on the decision made to eliminate his department.

Another question on the minds of commissioners: What will happen to the Human Rights Commission itself? While the future is still uncertain, they hope to get some answers prior to their next meeting.