Ten Ways to Fight Hate: a Community Response Guide
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TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE A COMMUNITY RESPONSE GUIDE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL MILWAUKEE 2 TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE A COMMUNITY RESPONSE GUIDE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL MILWAUKEE 1 TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE A COMMUNITY RESPONSE GUIDE 2 TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE A COMMUNITY RESPONSE GUIDE HATE IN AMERICA is a dreadful, daily agencies are not fully trained to recognize or in- constant. The dragging death of a black man vestigate hate crimes, and many simply do not in Jasper, Texas; the crucifixion of a gay man collect or report hate crime data. A definitive in Laramie, Wyo.; and the stabbing death of a study by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005 Latino immigrant in Long Island, N.Y., are not estimated there are about 191,000 hate crime “isolated incidents.” They are eruptions of a na- incidents per year. tion’s intolerance. Bias is a human condition, and American The good news is … history is rife with prejudice against groups and All over the country people are fighting hate, individuals because of their race, religion, dis- standing up to promote tolerance and inclusion. ability, sexual orientation or other differences. More often than not, when hate flares up, good The 20th century saw major progress in outlaw- people rise up against it — often in greater ing discrimination, and most Americans today numbers and with stronger voices. support integrated schools and neighborhoods. This guide sets out 10 principles for fighting But stereotypes and unequal treatment persist, hate, along with a collection of inspiring stories an atmosphere often exploited by hate groups. of people who worked to push hate out of their When bias motivates an unlawful act, it is communities. considered a hate crime. Race and religion Whether you need a crash course to deal inspire most hate crimes, but hate today wears with an upcoming white-power rally, a primer many faces. Bias incidents (eruptions of hate on the media or a long-range plan to promote where no crime is committed) also tear com- tolerance in your community, you will find munities apart — and threaten to escalate into practical advice, timely examples and helpful actual crimes. resources in this guide. The steps outlined here In recent years, the FBI has reported have been tested in scores of communities between 7,000 and 8,000 hate crime incidents across the nation by a wide range of human per year in the United States. But law enforce- rights, faith and civic organizations. ment officials acknowledge that hate crimes — Our experience shows that one person, act- similar to rape and family violence crimes — go ing from conscience and love, is able to neu- under-reported, with many victims reluctant tralize bigotry. Imagine, then, what an entire to go to the police. In addition, some police community, working together, might do. 3 Community members come together at a unity rally in Jas- per, Texas, following the drag- ging death of James Byrd Jr. DAVID PHILLIP / AP WIDE WORLD DAVID 4 TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE ACT SPEAK UP Do something. In the face of hatred, apathy will Hate must be exposed and denounced. Help be1 interpreted as acceptance — by the perpetrators, news6 organizations achieve balance and depth. Do the public and, worse, the victims. Decent people not debate hate-group members in conflict-driven must take action; if we don’t, hate persists. page 6 forums. Instead, speak up in ways that draw atten- tion away from hate, toward unity. page 16 UNITE Call a friend or co-worker. Organize LOBBY LEADERS allies2 from churches, schools, clubs and other 7Elected officials and other community civic groups. Create a diverse coalition. Include leaders can be important allies in the fight against children, police and the media. Gather ideas from hate. But some must overcome reluctance — and everyone, and get everyone involved. page 8 others, their own biases — before they’re able to take a stand. page 18 SUPPORT THE VICTIMS LOOK LONG RANGE 3Hate-crime victims are especially vulnerable, fearful and alone. If you’re a victim, report every Promote tolerance and address bias before incident — in detail — and ask for help. If you learn another8 hate crime can occur. Expand your com- about a hate-crime victim in your community, show munity’s comfort zones so you can learn and live support. Let victims know you care. Surround them together. page 20 with comfort and protection. page 10 TEACH TOLERANCE DO YOUR HOMEWORK 9Bias is learned early, usually at home. 4An informed campaign improves its effec- Schools can offer lessons of tolerance and accep- tiveness. Determine if a hate group is involved, tance. Sponsor an “I Have a Dream” contest. Reach and research its symbols and agenda. Understand out to young people who may be susceptible to the difference between a hate crime and a bias hate-group propaganda and prejudice. page 22 incident. page 12 DIG DEEPER CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE Look inside yourself for prejudices 5Do not attend a hate rally. Find another out- 10and stereotypes. Build your own cultural compe- let for anger and frustration and for people’s de- tency, then keep working to expose discrimination sire to do something. Hold a unity rally or parade wherever it happens — in housing, employment, to draw media attention away from hate. page 14 education and more. page 24 A list of resources begins on page 30 DAVID PHILLIP / AP WIDE WORLD DAVID 5 Act Do something. In the face of hatred, apathy will be interpreted as acceptance — by the perpetrators, the public and, worse, the vic- tims. Decent people must take action; if we 1 don’t, hate persists. A HATE GROUP IS COMING to our town. one person’s actions set in motion a community What should we do?” uprising against hatred. “I am very alarmed at hate crimes…What can I, “I have been asked many times since that night as one person, do to help?” why I got involved,” Christine Iverson said. “The “I find myself wanting to act, to show support for answer is simple. I was so upset after reading the the victims, to demonstrate my anger and sorrow… article that I had to do something. So I got up and But I don’t know what to do or how to begin.” made a phone call. Everything else came from that If you’ve opened this guide, you probably want to moment of decision.” “do something” about hate. You are not alone. Ques- Iverson, a disaster response expert and min- tions like these arrive daily at the Southern Poverty ister for Lutheran Social Services, called a friend Law Center. When a hate crime occurs or a hate involved in the church’s anti-racism program. Then group rallies, good people often feel helpless. We she called the victim. Then she called a ministerial encourage you to act, for the following reasons: alliance and asked to be put on the agenda. She Hate is an open attack on tolerance and decency. went to the meeting with four proposals: a letter to It must be countered with acts of goodness. Sitting the editor, a prayer meeting, flier distribution and home with your virtue does no good. In the face a candlelight vigil. The alliance recommended all of hate, silence is deadly. Apathy will be interpreted as four, and Iverson was put in charge. acceptance – by the perpetrators, the public and, worse, The result was a gathering of 300 people, a the victims. If left unchallenged, hate persists and grows. speech by the mayor, news accounts of the rally, Hate is an attack on a community’s health. Hate and the formation of a unity committee within the tears society along racial, ethnic, gender and reli- church alliance. More than 150 people marched for gious lines. The U.S. Department of Justice warns the first time in a Martin Luther King Day parade, that hate crimes, more than any other crime, can and an essay contest was created on the theme “We trigger larger community conflict, civil disturbanc- Have a Dream.” es and even riots. For all their “patriotic” rhetoric, “There is still a lot of work to be done,” Iverson hate groups and their freelance imitators are really said, “but we are beginning to do the work to- trying to divide us; their views are fundamentally gether.” anti-democratic. True patriots fight hate. Hate escalates. Take seriously the smallest hint Do Something of hate — even what appears to be simple name- When hate happens, we are faced with two calling. The Department of Justice again has a choices: warning: Slurs often escalate to harassment, harass- Do nothing, and let hate go unchallenged. ment to threats and threats to physical violence. Or do something — rise up, speak up and stand Don’t wait to fight hate. up against hate. People across the country routinely choose the One Phone Call latter, making differences, small and large, in their When a cross was burned in the yard of a single communities. mother of Portuguese descent in Rushville, Mo., >> A sixth-grade class in Morgantown, W.V., 6 TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE A sixth-grade class in Morgantown, W.V., THE DOMINION POST paints over skinhead graffiti on the outside wall of a convenience store. Their teacher used the graffiti to discuss hatred and violence. DALE SPARKS / DALE SPARKS painted over skinhead graffiti on the outside wall after the second incident and with continuous of a convenience store. Their teacher had used the personal threats to her safety, the 65-year-old white graffiti to discuss hatred and violence.