Battleship New Jersey
Address
100 Clinton St.
Camden
NJ
08103
United States
VETERANS – YOU HAVE SPECIFIC CIVIL RIGHTS – COME & LEARN WHAT THEY ARE – COMPLIMENTS OF THE NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE AMERICAN LEGION!
The New Jersey Attorney General’s (AG) Office in partnership with The American Legion will conduct a regional Veterans’ Civil Rights seminar, on September 29, 2012, from 10 am – 11 am for registration (preregistration see below), and from 11 am – 2 pm for the Seminar. (THIS INFORMATION APPLIES TO ALL VETERANS, NOT ONLY IN NEW JERSEY.) It will be held on the Battleship New Jersey, 100 Clinton St, Camden, NJ 08103. The Seminar will be hosted by the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, and Camden County American Legion. All veterans, family members, and veteran service organizations are invited to attend. You do not have to belong to The American Legion to participate. There will be other veteran-related support groups present to provide information and services, e.g. the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs, VA, DMAVA, Vet2Vet, etc. During registration light refreshments will be provided by the Camden County American Legion.
The event is the fifth in a series of Seminars, and part of a continuing Division on Civil Rights initiative designed to help those who have served in the military and upon returning to civilian life, encountered discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere. Attorney General Chiesa explained that one concern underlying the outreach effort is that discrimination against military personnel may go unreported due to a lack of awareness of the protections afforded by the law. For example, he noted, some military members may not realize that an employee cannot be fired, demoted or removed from promotional consideration simply because he or she is absent from work fulfilling a service obligation. Therefore they decided to launch their own outreach campaign based on these concerns in conjunction with The American Legion.
Veterans are entitled to employment-related protection under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). This law also provides substantial protection of those who seek to gain or continue employment with a disability. DCR has a special interest in any veterans with disabilities having discrimination complaints in employment, housing, and public accommodations. They are also concerned about military reservists and National Guard that have lost their employment or have been assigned to different positions following their return from the military.
Therefore the AG’s office produced an educational seminar to inform all veterans of their civil rights. The DCR will ensure the prosecution of all veteran discrimination cases, including employer and other business dealings. NJ’s disability laws are more stringent than Federal law, which will be part of this discussion. The AG’s DCR also believes that veterans discrimination is being under reported, therefore a further need for this education. A representative from the Federal EEOC will also be present to explain Federal Discrimination Laws, as well as the US Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Additionally, another segment of the seminar will be explanation of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) of 1974, which requires federal contractors and subcontractors to provide equal opportunity and affirmative action for Vietnam era veterans, special disabled veterans, and veterans who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized. During the Seminar the DCR will also explain the process to file a claim together, with the locations of their offices that are available to assist veterans in need of these services. Please e-mail boblooby@embarqmail.com to preregister. If you have any general questions pertaining to this seminar, please call Bob Looby, The American Legion’s Coordinator, on 908-894-0746. You may also contact the Newark Attorney Generals’ office at 973- 648-4826.