Virtual town hall to focus on immigrant community in Charleroi
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) will host a virtual town hall today, with a focus on the large immigrant community in Charleroi. The program is free and open to the public.
Called No Hate in Our State, the town hall will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. The town halls are being held across the state and focus on addressing the root causes of hate and the role laws play in finding justice.
A 2023 survey found that about 2,000 immigrants from 44 countries – including China, Spain, Indonesia and African nations – make Charleroi their home.
PHRC held a No Hate in Our State town hall in Charleroi in December 2024. Three months prior, Charleroi’s Haitian population gained national attention after a mention by then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump. At a campaign rally in Arizona, Trump claimed Haitian immigrants brought “massive crime to the town.”
Last month, Charleroi Councilman Larry Celaschi testified before a U.S. House subcommittee about the borough’s immigrant population. He said the influx of immigrants has had a negative impact on the borough.
On Monday, both Celaschi and borough Manager Joe Manning, who has been supportive of the borough’s immigrant population,said they were unaware of the virtual town hall.
The event will be moderated by Anita Levels, PHRC civil rights outreach coordinator. The panelists will be Cpl. Aaron Allen, state police Heritage Affairs Section; Dr. Alon Milwicki, senior research analyst, Intelligence Project, Southern Poverty Law Center; Jacob Beeders, Bridging Divides, Princeton University, senior research analyst (PA State Lead); and Joseph Murphy, Allegheny Immigration Group.
The No Hate in Our State initiative is part of PHRC’s ongoing efforts to combat bias and discrimination across Pennsylvania. The Town Hall will be held via Microsoft Teams and is open to the public. To register, go to: tinyurl.com/5xdvj88e.