‘No hate in our state’: Pa. commission hears about immigrant concerns at town hall

The “No Hate In Our State” town hall held Wednesday night in Charleroi was a place of great debate.

Hosted by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the event featured panelists led by PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, Charleroi Borough Manager Joseph Manning, PHRC civil rights division Director Sheryl Meck, Washington County NAACP President David Gattling and Emily Holmes, a senior state program officer for Common Ground USA.

The purpose of the town hall was to provide a forum for local residents and officials to openly speak about issues their communities are facing and bridge any divides that may exist.

About 20 people attended the town hall at Dee’s Event Center in downtown Charleroi.

The forum spurred debate between some borough council members and residents about the recent influx of Haitian immigrants in the community.

The small town was recently thrust into the national spotlight when now President-elect Donald Trump, while campaigning as the Republican nominee, mentioned the Washington County borough’s growing immigrant population Several people at the meeting brought up issues they’re facing because of the new residents and others discussed how the immigrants are welcome and needed in the community.

Local business owner John Lunt expressed anger toward Charleroi Borough Council and claimed they failed to prepare for the stream of new immigrant residents.

Lunt said he had an issue earlier this year about a Haitian immigrant crashing into one of his properties and claimed that the new immigrants are easily obtaining driver’s licenses without proper education. He added he had no issues against the immigrants, but believes the situation was mishandled.

“I hope what comes out of this conversation is that we don’t let people come here, undocumented, unprepared, and put a community at risk,” Lunt said. “Anybody who gets a driver’s license in this state should have to take a written permit test and a driving test and be able to not just pass that permit test, to pass that driving test, that’s probably one of my biggest concerns, and to make sure that they’re not getting multiple licenses, because you’re using ID for verification.”

Lunt accused council as being the reason why 3,000 Haitian immigrants were brought to Charleroi and that they’re the reason why some of his businesses were doing poorly.

“I own the Professional Plaza in North Charleroi that is 80% empty. Why is it 80% empty? Because Charleroi council brought 3,000 Haitians and dropped them in Charleroi,” Lunt said. “Now I don’t hate the Haitians, I don’t agree with Charleroi council. I’m getting ready to sue Charleroi council and I have the finances to do it.”

Councilman Larry Celaschi responded to Lunt and said council was not the reason why they were brought to the borough.

“We had nothing to do with bringing in any immigrants into our community, if we did I sure would know,” Celaschi said.

During the event there was a heated discussion between council Vice President Jerry Jericho and Lunt about the number of car accidents involving immigrants. Jericho initially said there were no incidents involving immigrants in November but then Celaschi corrected him and said there were three. Jericho agreed and then corrected himself.

Jericho said Lunt might have issues with his businesses because of political signage and recommended he takes them down.

“I think it’s bad politics to post political things on your windows,” Jericho said. “I don’t care if it’s Democrat or Republican, a good business shouldn’t do that.”

Donn Henderson, a former borough manager, said immigrants were needed in the community and that they were part of the generational fabric of Charleroi. He also addressed concerns about immigrants causing car accidents.

“The glass business would have never flourished in Charleroi without immigrants because they’re the ones who started it. Not for long it became a very diverse base, but that’s who got here and started it,” Henderson said. “Until now, until you got new traffic lights and new traffic signs, your intersections have not been properly marked for 20 years. So no wonder people were turning left, your signs didn’t say anything right.”

Celaschi suggested to the panel that PHRC should come back but with a group that includes more business owners from the area. Lassiter said they would be happy to come back to Charleroi to hold another event, but said Charleroi could hold a similar event on their own to discuss dividing issues.

Lassiter said the event was a success for him and it provided much needed discussion.

“I think everyone that attended should be commended for speaking their truth the way they see truth. Everyone should be commended for sharing their primary and secondary experiences,” Lassiter said. “I like the fact that there was great debate. I like the fact that there was disagreement. I like the fact that there were aspects of conflicting stories, because conflict brings about a sense of comfort, and that’s what was good.”

He added that the next steps for the borough was up to the community but said the PHRC was readily available to help Charleroi.