News stories tagged with "race"

(02/14/12) A St. Lawrence County community is being reminded, again, of an 80 year-old rumor many people would rather forget.

A new novel re-imagines what happened when a little girl went missing overnight in Massena. It's based on a true story from 1928. The town's small Jewish community was accused of kidnapping her for a ritual murder.

Julie Grant set out to find out what really happened. She found that after 80 years, it's not easy to parse the truth from rumors and memories.

But she did find that people from cultures around the world brought together in America's "melting pot" were easily pulled apart in a time of crisis. more

(11/02/11) The election of a county clerk usually doesn't get much attention. The office processes paperwork: passports, pistol permits, mortgages, and vehicle registrations. But this year, people are watching the race for clerk in St. Lawrence County. And the two candidates think that's largely because the office has started making money. Julie Grant reports. more

(09/26/11) A young girl who was bullied, harassed and assaulted in school because of her race has filed a $6 million federal lawsuit against the Saranac Lake Central School District.

The girl and her parents, Amy and Hiram Oliveras, filed a complaint last week in U.S. Northern District Court, alleging the school district violated her civil rights and the state's Human Rights Law by failing to protect her from bullying, racial discrimination and harassment.

Martha Foley reports, more

(07/26/11) New York's Department of Environmental Conservation has begun a process designed to eliminate the racially charged "N-word" from all its maps and regulations.

The change affects documents created decades ago and includes one small lake in the southern Adirondacks. Brian Mann has details. more

(06/27/11) It was a year ago last week that an incident of racially fueled bullying at the Saranac Lake Middle School made headlines and put school officials in the hot seat.

One year later, the school district has completed a series of diversity and anti-bullying programs, activities and training sessions for its students, staff, teachers, principals and school board.

The effort was designed to change the culture of the school district. As Chris Knight reports, however, school officials admit they still have much more work to do. more

(12/03/10) This morning in Lake Placid, teachers and historians and activists begin a two-day conference to talk about slavery.

New Yorkers played a big role in the slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, financing and profiting from an industry that ruined the lives of more than 12 million Africans.

Slave-owning wasn't banned in this state until 1827. Modern-day activists say human trafficking and exploitation is once again on the rise.

Martha Swan is with a group called John Brown Lives.

She told Brian Mann that this conference, which is open to the public, will explore the history and present-day reality of slavery. more

(07/23/10) Author, educator and artist Nell Irvin Painter spoke at the Elizabethtown County Courthouse on Sunday. She read selections from her new book, "The History of White People," and fielded questions from the audience. The talk was part of a series sponsored by modern day anti-slavery organizations John Brown Lives! and John Brown Coming Home. Sarah Harris attended and has our story.

(07/08/10) Administrators and school board officials in Saranac Lake are apologizing after it was disclosed that a young girl was the subject of a bullying campaign by other students that apparently went on for more than a year. The 12-year-old girl was harassed in part because of her race. Brian Mann reports. more

(03/02/10) Protesters will gather in Albany tomorrow to try to save dozens of New York state parks and historic sites. Governor David Paterson wants to close the parks this spring as part of an effort to cut an $8.2-billion budget deficit. At least nine parks in the North Country are targeted. Historians and civil rights activists are especially furious over the plan to shut down John Browns Farm in Lake Placid. As Brian Mann reports, the burial site of the famous Civil War-era abolitionist has been a pilgrimage site and a symbol of freedom for more than 150 years.

(09/10/09) A poll released yesterday by Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman is offering a first snapshot of the congressional race to replace John McHugh. The survey, paid for by Hoffman's campaign, shows Republican Dede Scozzafava with 30% of the vote. That compares with 20% for Democrat Bill Owens and 19% for Hoffman. Brian Mann has our report.