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Translate this page into other languages automatically. Victim statement: Contrary to Hollywood, not all mental illnesses are equal. I suffer from the illness called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is not a personality disorder, it does not distort the patient's perception of reality, and it does not make the patient paranoid. Although largely a disorder of anxiety and anger, it does not predispose the patient to violence or lesson the patient's self control. In fact, often because the patient deals with self control every day, under circumstances of stress he or she is apt to show markedly superior self restraint than average, as of long practice. It will be difficult for the average, decent person visiting this page to believe the veracity of this publication. For that reason I assure you all assertions published on this page are either documented or were witnessed by others. I have chosen not to publish names of individuals, employees of the Huntington Banks, employees of the West Virginia Human Rights Commission, members of the Huntington Police Department, employees of the Huntington Human Relations Commission and mayors of Huntington who I feel either directly violated my human rights or aided and abetted those who did. Instead I have indicated the participants by the use of initials. Full disclosure can be made if necessary for self defense. It is hoped by masking the identity of the participants their families will be protected as innocent non-participants. I have given the names of those who have helped me in the past, such as Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV, former West Virginia governor Cecil Underwood, Senator Robert Byrd and Mary Neely of the Huntington City Council, among others. To them I am eternally grateful. It gives me no pleasure to publish the particulars of the campaign of terror and intimidation I have endured because of hatred for the mentally ill. I am not comfortable in publishing these events, and do so only to protect myself from the most unpleasant aspect of it, i.e., the character assassination practiced against me by those in positions of authority. While I am sufficient unto myself and do not need approval, I am using the reputation I have established in an effort to be an asset to the world community and cannot permit my work to be halted by hate. If I, who have suffered much, do not hate, on what grounds do they hate me? I publish this, too, as a caution to others. Also, perhaps, I will be able to tell them the simple truth, "You are not alone. I care." Documentation from only one file pertaining to discrimination based on disability, i.e., PTSD. Mostly highlighting harassment by individuals intolerant of the disability, involvement of the Huntington Banks, and participation of an officer of the Huntington Police Department. Deleterious actions on the part of HPD (Lt. A.M., a detective) detailed in other files yet to be published. It is important to note that the harassment was almost daily, oftentimes hourly. (During this period Sal Norris wrote and illustrated Disobedient Woman, a tribute to Genesis 1-4 and the unfolding love between Adam and Eve, and The Scald, a poetic performance play exploring the relationship between God and Man.) April 16, 1998: Letter to Ms. D.S., of the Mike Kelly law offices, representing the Huntington Human Relations Commission, from Ms. Norris expressing the opinion HHRC is not in compliance with the FOIA Request. (Note: Nine pages were missing from the file when it was finally given to Ms. Norris. These pages concerned the denial of attorney's Motion to Dismiss complaint made by Ms. Norris.) March 31, 1998: Letter to Sal Norris from Ms. D.S. (attorney for HHRC) in which she verifies the missing documents withheld from Sal Norris' file under an FOIA Request were in the possession of HHRC at the time the request was made. January 13, 1998: Letter to Sal Norris from Ms. D.S. (attorney for HHRC) in which she answers the complaint Ms. Norris made regarding Ms. C. C. of HHRC requesting disclosure of the cause of the PTSD with, "While I understand how one might be uncomfortable talking about his or her disabilities. . .such. . .is. . .appropriate." July 22, 1997: Letter from Sal Norris to Lt. Col. G. G., Deputy Superintendent West Virginia State Police, with enclosure of photographs of Officer P. of the Huntington Police Department (HPD) plowing snow from 1738 and depositing on the property of Sal Norris; saluting her with a beer bottle in company with group of friends taunting her. July 9, 1997: Letter from Lt. Col. G.G. to Sal Norris in which he states he will not "interfere in a situation. . .unless a formal request is received from Huntington Police Department or the Prosecuting Attorney's Office." May 13, 1997: Letter to Colonel T.K, Superintendent West Virginia State Police, from Sal Norris requesting to be permitted to file reports regarding misconduct at HPD. April 3. 1997: Letter to Ms. C. of HUD from Sal Norris, requesting to know the Appeals Process regarding denial of right to file a complaint through HUD. Ms. Norris also inquired who alleged that she had refused to cooperate with HUD, and who stated she had not completed the forms. April 1, 1997: Letter from Sal Norris to M.S., Director HUD informing him of the problems she was having in attempting to file a complaint with HUD, and alerting him false statements had been made to Congressman Rahall by representatives of HUD. April 1, 1997: Letter from Sal Norris to A.C., Secretary HUD, informing him of the problems she was having in attempting to file a complaint with HUD, and alerting him false statements had been made to Congressman Rahall by representatives of HUD. March 25, 1997: Letter to Sal Norris from Mr. W.R., Director Mid-Atlantic Fair Housing Enforcement Division, in which he states his office lacks jurisdiction to proceed under the law. March 25, 1997: Letter from Sal Norris to Ms. C furnishing her the additional, requested information. March 13, 1997: Phone call to Sal Norris from Ms. C (in excess of two hours) in which she grilled Ms. Norris on dates and during which she hung up on Ms. Norris once. Ms. Norris called back and requested Fair Housing Complaint forms to be mailed so residents at 1738 could be named as Ms. C. constantly referred back to them in her questions. Ms. C. requested further information to be sent her so she could determine whether she could file the complaint. Ms. Norris asked to obtain a copy of the transcript of the meeting with Mr. H. A. of the Huntington Banks since it corroborated statements; Ms. C. stated she could not do that. She further stated Ms. Norris was interfering with the First Amendment rights of the occupants of 1702 Seventh Avenue since it guarantees "anybody can say anything to anybody anytime." This illumines the understanding of the law embodied at HUD. March 13, 1997: Letter from Sal Norris to Ms. C. requesting Fair Housing Complaint forms to file on occupants of 1738. February 14, 1997: Letter from Sal Norris to Ms. V.C of HUD containing copies of correspondence she requested. January 20, 1997: Letter from Sal Norris to Mayor J.D., mayor of Huntington, West Virginia, informing her of Ms. C.C.'s false statements to Congressman Rahall. January 20, 1997: Letter from Sal Norris to V.V., Director FHEO, informing him of the letter generated by Mr. R. to congressman Rahall, of of Ms. C. C.'s false statements contained therein. January 20, 1997: Letter to S.L., Executive Director HHRC, informing her of the false statements made by Ms. C.C. of her staff to Congressman Rahall. Inquired of Ms. L. if there were other forms which should be filled out. January 10, 1997: Letter to Mr. H.A. of the Huntington Banks listing Requests for Accommodation. January 8, 1997: Letter to Sal Norris from Senator Rockefeller in which he states he has contacted HUD regarding complaint. January 3, 1997: Letter to Sal Norris from Congressman Rahall in which he states he has again contacted the appropriate officials regarding letter of December 16. December 16, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Congressman Rahall detailing the untruths contained in Mr. R.'s letter. December 15, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Mr. R. informing him untruths have been channeled through his office to Congressman Rahall. December 4, 1996: Letter to Sal Norris from Senator Rockefeller stating he has contacted the proper authorities on behalf of Ms. Norris. December 2, 1996: Letter to Sal Norris from Congressman Rahall. Congressman Rahall kindly enclosed a copy of a letter written to him by F.R, State Coordinator of HUD. Following is a synopsis of the false allegations used by HHRC as a cover for their refusal to permit Ms. Norris to file a complaint: Mr. R. stated that C.C. received numerous phone calls from Ms. Norris. He stated Ms. Norris had not made arrangements to file a formal written complaint with HHRC. He stated that HRRC mailed a HUD 25 Fair Housing complaint form to Ms. Norris which she partially completed and mailed to Philadelphia. He stated that upon receipt of the partially completed form, the enforcement center contacted HHRC to request their assistance in getting Ms. Norris to provide the necessary information for HUD to have jurisdiction to investigate the complaint. He stated Ms. Norris had not provided HUD nor HHRC the needed information. November 22, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Ms. C.C. of HHRC again resisting the request of HHRC for the release of confidential medical information regarding PTSD, i.e., the cause of Mr. Norris' disorder. November 22, 1996: Letter to Sal Norris from Senator Byrd in which he suggests Ms. Norris contact Col. T.K. of the West Virginia State Police for assistance. November 15, 1996: Letter to Sal Norris from Ms. C.C. of HHRC in which she states, "It is not clear that at this original confrontation these things were being done to you because of your sex or your disabilities." Ms. C.C., however, was referring to actions from tenants at 1738, while the complaints were filed against Mr. M. and Ms. S. at 1702. It was obvious Ms. C.C. was seeking a way to avoid filing the complaints for reasons unknown. November 8, 1996: Letters from Sal Norris to Congressman Rahall, Senator Byrd and Senator Rockefeller, detailing the problems she was having filing the complaint regarding harassment. October 31, 1996: Phone call to Sal Norris from Ms. C.C. of HHRC. Ms. C.C.'s attitude was defensive and reactionary. Ms. C.C. asked what PTSD was; when Ms. Norris explained Ms. C.C. said, "Well we knew what that was, but we thought maybe this was something else. After that Ms. C.C.'s attitude was hostile. she asked, "Do you know what caused it?" When Ms. Norris declined to disclose the cause of her disorder Ms. C.C. told her if she did not cooperate she (Ms. C.C.) did not have to file the complaint. She spoke of nothing other than PTSD, not even the particulars of the case. October 4, 1996: Letter to Sal Norris from Mr. H. A. of the Huntington Banks stating he would not renew Ms. Norris' lease due to "the neighborhood disagreements." He refused to furnish a copy of the transcript of meeting of August 21. September 6, 1996: Sal Norris filed Housing Discrimination Complaints against Mr. M. and Ms. S; she named Mr. H.A. of the Huntington Banks in them. September 6, 1996: Phone call to Sal Norris from Mr. H.A. of the Huntington Banks. He told Ms. Norris she had to assume the yard duties along one side of 1702. He told Ms. Norris, that on request from Ms. S. he was going to inspect Ms. Norris' property for damages. He informed Ms. Norris that, also at Ms. S.'s request, he intended to inquire of someone of Ms. Norris' character, namely Officer P. Mr. H.A. informed Ms. Norris she would allow free play of Ms. S.'s children on Ms. Norris' property and porches, and that all plantings in Ms. Norris' yards and property were to be considered communal, including Ms. Norris' porch boxes and flower pots. The demands did not extend unilaterally to Ms. S's yards and property. September 6, 1996: Phone call to Sal Norris from Ms. C. of the Huntington Banks. Ms. C. insisted several times future rent payment checks be sent regular mail instead of return receipt requested. August 22, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Mr. H.A. of the Huntington Banks requesting a copy of the transcript of the meeting of August 21. Mr. H.A. was informed Mr. M. and Ms. S. had engaged in harassment of Ms. Norris in conjunction with their friends at 1738. August 21, 1996: Sal Norris and her sister met with Mr. H.A. of the Huntington Banks. Mr. H.A. refused to renew rental lease. Throughout the meeting Mr. H.A. constantly referred to eviction. A recording of the meeting was made on request of Mr. H.A. August 19, 1996: Phone call to Sal Norris from Mr. H.A. of the Huntington Banks. Mr. H.A. insisted he had to meet with Ms. Norris. She explained to him she had just undergone extensive oral surgery and would be recuperating for the next six weeks. He demanded a meeting nonetheless. Ms. Norris agreed to meet with him August 21. August 12, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Ms. C.B. of HUD requesting to file a complaint regarding harassment. Sometime after August, 1996: S.R., one of the young men most active in the harassment at 1738 (who had supposedly been evicted by Mr. K. to forestall litigation against him) moved back into the house at 1738. He resumed his threats against Sal Norris, liking especially to scream "F__k you, you crazy bitch!" out the windows and doors many times a day. Please see log regarding Mr. S.R.'s harassment. These events deal mainly with residents of 1702 who stepped up their harassment. August 12, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Lt. A.M. of HPD regarding harassment against Ms. Norris by residents of 1702. August 12, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Mr. H.A. of the Huntington Banks inquiring about tardy lease. August 3, 1996: Mr. M. destroyed many herb plants in Ms. Norris' garden in her backyard. August 2, 1996: Resident or guest at 1702 broke beer bottle in Sal Norris' driveway. Ms. Norris went to sweep it up and was met with loud verbal threats. Ms. Norris' sister witnessed Mr. M. throw a lit firecracker at Ms. Norris when her back was turned. Mr. M. taunted Ms. Norris with "shell shock" remarks, i.e., he would light a firecracker and yell, "Watch her dive under a car!" July 6, 1996: Phone call from Ms. S., resident at 1702 to Sal Norris. Ms. S. threatened to tell people Ms. Norris killed a cat if Ms. Norris told that Ms. S.'s boyfriend, Mr. M., had taken the porch boxes off Ms. Norris' porch. Ms. Norris could not ascertain if there was indeed a dead cat. Ms. S. further stated she was going to tell the landlord Ms. Norris killed a cat and have her evicted. Ms. S. then called Ms. Norris names, including "odd" and "crazy" and hung up. (After this call Ms. S. repeatedly told people Ms. Norris killed cats. Ms. S. told Officer P.'s wife Ms. Norris poisoned Mrs. P.'s dog and Mrs. P. angrily confronted Ms. Norris about it. Ms. Norris was not aware Mrs. P. owned dogs.) July 4, 1996: Sal Norris found the porch box Mr. M. had taken from her front porch deposited on her back porch. The flowers were broken. Ms. Norris wrote to Mr. M. requesting him to cease his harassment. July 3, 1996: Mr. M. from 1702 removed a porch box with flowers from Sal Norris' front porch late at night. On or about June 24, 1996: Phone call from Sal Norris to Mr. H.A. of the Huntington Banks offering to renew her lease for another year. Mr. H.A. gladly offered Ms. Norris a renewal. April 9, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Attorney General Darrell McGraw, Jr. requesting to be permitted to file report regarding the harassment she had endured. April 1, 1996: Mr. B.K., city inspector, personally delivered to Sal Norris a copy of an eviction notice he served on the tenants at 1738. He told Ms. Norris one of the boys, D.H., wanted to stay and inquired if the boy had been involved in the harassment. Ms. Norris informed Mr. B.K. the young man had been involved; Mr. B.K. told her he was going to stay anyway and asked Ms. Norris to desist from legal proceedings because he had served the eviction. March 1, 1996: Phone call to Sal Norris from Lt. A.M. (9:20 a.m.). Lt. A.M. asked if Ms. Norris could identify the boy who had thrown firecrackers onto her property. She told Lt. A.M. she could. Lt. A.M. said he would be back in touch with Ms. Norris. February 29, 1996: Phone call to Sal Norris from Mr. B.K., city inspector (4:30 p.m.). Mr. B.K. stated he had spoken with Lt. A.M. and that Lt. A.M. had asked him to go to the young men with him and talk to them. Ms. Norris informed Mr. B.K. she felt this jeopardized her safety and felt it could be construed by the young men as a warning in advance of legal proceedings. February 27, 1996: FAX from Sal Norris to Mr. B.K., city inspector, informing him Ms. Norris would not press charges against his tenants if they agreed to cease their harassment. February 26, 1996: Phone call to Sal Norris from Lt. A.M. to inform here he would call her when he had a definite court date to have warrants issued. February 25, 1996: Eighteen hours of extremely loud amplified noise from 1738. Threats and insults screamed at Sal Norris. Ms. Norris called HPD, an officer responded, talked and laughed with one of the tenants, and left without speaking to Ms. Norris. Ms. Norris called HPD again and asked to be permitted to make a report. Two officers responded, but they refused to permit Ms. Norris to make a report. February 3, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Mr. B.K., city inspector, requesting he dissuade Officer P. from plowing snow from Mr. B.K.'s property and depositing it on Ms. Norris'. February 3, 1996: Letter from Sal Norris to Lt. A.M. requesting to be permitted to file complaint/report against the occupants at 1738. Ms. Norris informed him of Officer P.'s involvement and practice of plowing snow from their property onto her own. She enclosed photographic evidence. Ms. Norris requested to be told why no documentation existed in his office regarding the continual harassment and and her failed attempts to make reports. February 3, 1996: Officer P., for the second time, with his brother-in-law, plowed snow from in front of 1738 and deposited it on Sal Norris' cleared walks and drive. (See photograph of Officer P. standing with his snow plow and saluting Ms. Norris with a beer bottle as she begins to clear her drive after he deposited snow in it.) November 14, 1995: Tenants at 1738 with friends numbering 7 or 8 young men threw snowballs at the car belonging to Ms. Norris' sister, and at house. Ms. Norris asked them to leave the property; they advanced toward her, threatened her, called her names and shouted at her. Ms. Norris' sister called HPD. Officer P. responded and cleared the call. November 3, 1995: Letter from Sal Norris to Mayor J.D. requesting to be permitted to make a report regarding the harassment. October 5, 1995: Five young men, including tenants at 1738, yelled at Sal Norris' all day from their front porch. The young men grabbed their private parts, shook them at Ms. Norris' windows, threatened and insulted her. The group of young men came to Ms. Norris' side door and attempted to force an entry. Ms. Norris called HPD. Officer P. responded and cleared the call. September 6, 1995: Letter from Sal Norris to Mr. M.S., President of the Huntington Banks informing him that his employee, Mr. W. had shared confidential information contained on her Application to Rent with occupants at 1702. Ms. Norris asked to what degree the application had been shared. Ms. Norris informed Mr. M.S. of aggressive behavior of the tenants at 1702 August 30, 1995: Sal Norris began a log of harassment after the Huntington Police Department repeatedly failed to allow her to file reports of property damage and simple assault (unwanted touching, etc.). All calls for assistance prior had been answered by Officer P. and cleared by him. Late June,1995--August 30, 1995: Sal Norris came under repeated harassment from tenants at 1738. Mr. M. from 1702 participated in the harassment with name calling, mostly yelling the label "crazy" and "psycho." Mid June, 1995: Sal Norris attended a monthly meeting of The Drama Interest Group (DIG) with fellow writers. A new writer expressed concern she would be laughed at because she had anxiety attacks. Ms. Norris comforted her by saying, "Don't worry. I have PTSD and they haven't thrown me out of here yet." The conversation was overheard by Ms. K.W., who was, unbeknown to Ms. Norris, close friends with Ms. S. her new neighbor. Early June 1995: Ms. Norris introduced herself to her neighbors at 1702, Mr. M. and Ms. S. They asked her to mow their backyard because their mower was broken in exchange for some fresh tomatoes. Ms. Norris mowed the yard for them and Ms. S. said she would like to bring their baby over some day to see Ms. Norris' parrots. June 1995: Sal Norris and her sister moved into a house located at 1704 Seventh Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia. The house is located between 1702 and 1738 (there is an alley between houses). Next door to 1738 is Officer P.'s house. |
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