March 22, 2010 – TAMPA BAY – Youth for Human Rights Florida steps out onto the streets to create awareness against racial discrimination on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a day when people around the world come together in their communities to work toward ending racism. The group, which promotes education of the 30 human rights based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, went to the people in the streets asking them to sign a petition to get human rights taught in schools.

Gathering hundreds of signatures, Youth for Human Rights Florida believes that when people fully understand human rights, they will demand their rights and respect the rights of others. Making racial discrimination a priority, the group works toward tolerance and peace through various avenues such as marching on Martin Luther King Jr. Day; to representing youth at Passing the Torch to America’s Youth – the story of Selma, Alabama, to gain voter’s rights for all races; to representing the USA in the International Walk for Human Rights on UN Human Rights Day, when the United Nations stated their motto as “Embrace Diversity – End Discrimination”.

“The dream of a world free of racial hatred and bias remains only partially recognized, as according to FBI statistics racial hate crimes in America are on the rise,” said Youth for Human Rights Florida President Dustin McGahee.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was first established in 1966 because of the shocking violence on March 21, 1960, when the massacre of young students peacefully protesting against apartheid laws in South Africa killed 69 people. The United Nations General Assembly called upon the international community to work together throughout the world to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
Youth for Human Rights Florida is a secular, non-profit organization with the mission to educate people of all ages about their rights. The uniqueness of the program lies in the educational materials created in collaboration with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International. Its founder L. Ron Hubbard in fact stated: “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream”. Designed to present the subject of human rights in multimedia formats suitable for all ages, the materials include “The Story of Human Rights,” a documentary video that illustrates the history of human rights through the ages; booklets; public service announcements that educate youth and adults on the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and teaching aids that include a study guide, activities manual and educator's classroom kit. For more information about the 30 human rights go to: www.youthforhumanrights.org