The idea that we fundamentally have more things in common than we have differences; that it is important to cross borders of race, ethnicity, class, and geography; that no neighborhood is the preserve of any one racial, ethnic, or religious group; and that all forms of illegal discrimination must be fought, wherever and whenever they manifest themselves. Once upon a time, it was called the Civil Rights Movement.
The New York City Human Rights Law is one of the most powerful anti-discrimination laws in the country, far stronger than either federal law or most state counterparts. Its emphasis is on maximizing accountability and on creating a real deterrent to discriminatory conduct.