8.1 million dollars has been awarded to victims of discrimination across New York State. Governor
Kathy Hochul made the announcement that the state’s Division of Human Rights (DHR) awarded the money to over 900 New Yorkers in Fiscal Year 2024, a 20% increase from the previous fiscal year.
“Securing this funding furthers our efforts to help victims seek the justice they deserve and make New York a safer state for all,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State will hold individuals accountable for their discriminatory practices, and victims of discrimination deserve to feel heard and seen.”
Under the law, it is illegal to discriminate in areas such as housing, employment, education, and public accommodation based on factors such as race, religion, sex, or citizenship status.
DHR Acting Commissioner Denise Miranda said, “New York State is the State of opportunity and no one should ever be denied equal treatment or inclusion in all that our State has to offer. But when that does occur, the Division of Human Rights is prepared to investigate and enforce our State’s Human Rights Law. Whether it’s awarding monetary damages for victims, imposing civil penalties for those who discriminate, or ordering a change to an institutional policy, we will always ensure that every New Yorker is treated lawfully and fairly.”
A breakdown of the number of complaints and the amount of compensation is listed below
|
Region |
Number of Complaints |
Compensation |
|
Capital Region |
37 |
$554,652.57 |
|
Central NY |
68 |
$1,010,454.44 |
|
Finger Lakes |
116 |
$1,202,045.70 |
|
Long Island |
102 |
$882,268.00 |
|
Mid-Hudson |
87 |
$623,061.74 |
|
Mohawk Valley |
22 |
$287,349.86 |
|
North Country |
14 |
$316,750.00 |
|
NYC |
302 |
$1,778,806.60 |
|
Southern Tier |
27 |
$297,986.22 |
|
Western NY |
128 |
$1,193,493.06 |
New Yorkers who believe they have experienced discrimination can file complaints with the DHR, For more information on antidiscrimination laws or to file a complaint, visit dhr.ny.gov or call 1-888-392-3644.
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