PORT ANGELES — The first public meeting of the new Community Multicultural Task Force will be held Wednesday.
The meeting begins at 4 p.m. and will run until 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
Wednesday’s session will address complaints by Coast Guard personnel that some local residents and businesses have treated them in a racist manner.
Members of the public are invited to attend and give their comments.
“One of the first things we need to do is see how pervasive this is,” said Glenn Wiggins, mayor of Port Angeles and the task force’s chairman.
“We need to hear from different minority communities, including the (Elwha) tribe.
“People affected by racism should certainly be heard.”
There is room for almost 100 people in the City Council chambers.
Other task force members are:
* City Council member Karen Rogers.
* Police Chief Tom Riepe.
* Dennis R. Sullivan, chairman of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.
* Capt. Bill Peterson, commander of Guard Station/Air Group Port Angeles.
* Charlie McClain, president of the Port Angeles School Board.
* John Brewer, publisher of the Peninsula Daily News and president of the Chamber of Commerce.
* Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Russ Veenema.
* LeRoy Martin, president of Port Angeles Ford Lincoln Mercury and member of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
In addition, Wiggins said, representatives from Peninsula College, Clallam County and the local church community will be asked to be part of the task force.
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The rest of this story appears in the Tuesday Peninsula Daily News Clallam County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.
