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Ky. Human Rights Commission Director Reflects, Looks Ahead on MLK Day

http://kchr.ky.gov/

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights’ director says protecting against sexual orientation discrimination is the next step in the civil rights campaign.  John J. Johnson says the commission has been focused in recent years on extending fairness ordinances in local communities throughout the commonwealth.

“We live in a reasonably conservative state," Johnson said. "We’re not saying one should encourage or discourage sexual orientation, we’re saying people should not be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. These people have a right to live and coexist, have a job, rent an apartment, buy a home, just like you or I or the next person should.”

Murray is among other communities debating extending its 45-year old fairness ordinance to LGBT groups, making it the first in western Kentucky to do so.

Johnson has been the executive director of the commission since 2007.  He began his leadership in civil rights at the age of 18 when he became the youngest president of any NAACP chapter.  

Johnson remembers when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and says his death is something that’s still difficult to understand today.

“It was a time when people were being assassinated in our country and you couldn’t figure out the rationale of what in the world, it just seemed, at least at that time and even today that King was more like a prophet if you will, in my mind, and it’s almost like this servant of God, how in the world could you kill a man who was speaking just truth?"

Rob Canning is a native of Murray, KY, a 2015 TV Production grad of Murray State. At MSU, he served as team captain of the Murray State Rowing Club. Rob's goal is to become a screenwriter, film director or producer and looks to the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for inspiration. He appreciates good music, mainly favoring British rock n' roll, and approves of anything with Jack White's name on it. When not studying, rowing or writing, Rob enjoys spending his free time with a book or guitar.
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