TEN WAYs to FIGHT HATE a community response guide

TEN WAYs to FIGHT HATE Hate in America is a dreadful, daily constant. The dragging death of a black man in Jasper, Texas; the crucifixion of a gay man in Laramie, Wyo.; and the stabbing death of a Latino immigrant in Long Island, N.Y., are not “isolated incidents.” They are eruptions of a nation’s intolerance.

Bias is a human condition, and American history is rife A definitive study by the U.S. Department of Justice in with prejudice against groups and individuals because 2005 estimated there are about 191,000 hate crime inci- of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or dents per year. other differences. The 20th century saw major progress in outlawing discrimination, and most Americans today The good news is … support integrated schools and neighborhoods. But ste- All over the country people are fighting hate, standing reotypes and unequal treatment persist, an atmosphere up to promote tolerance and inclusion. More often than often exploited by hate groups. not, when hate flares up, good people rise up against it When bias motivates an unlawful act, it is consid- — often in greater numbers and with stronger voices. ered a hate crime. Race and religion inspire most hate This guide sets out 10 principles for fighting hate, crimes, but hate today wears many faces. Bias incidents along with a collection of inspiring stories of people who (eruptions of hate where no crime is committed) also worked to push hate out of their communities. tear communities apart — and threaten to escalate into Whether you need a crash course to deal with an actual crimes. upcoming white-power rally, a primer on the media or a In recent years, the FBI has reported between 7,000 long-range plan to promote tolerance in your community, and 8,000 hate crime incidents per year in the United you will find practical advice, timely examples and helpful States. But law enforcement officials acknowledge that resources in this guide. The steps outlined here have been hate crimes — similar to rape and family violence crimes tested in scores of communities across the nation by a — go under-reported, with many victims reluctant to go wide range of human rights, faith and civic organizations. to the police. In addition, some police agencies are not Our experience shows that one person, acting from con- fully trained to recognize or investigate hate crimes, and science and love, is able to neutralize bigotry. Imagine, then, many simply do not collect or report hate crime data. what an entire community, working together, might do.

TODD ROBERTSON/GAINESVILLE TIMES 1. ACT 2. UNITE 3. SUPPORT 4.Y DO OUR 5. CREATE AN Do something. In Call a friend or co- THE VICTIMS HOMEWORK ALTERNATIVE the face of hatred, worker. Organize Hate crime victims An informed cam- Do not attend a hate apathy will be inter- allies from churches, are especially vul- paign improves rally. Find another preted as acceptance schools, clubs and nerable, fearful and its effectiveness. outlet for anger and — by the perpetra- other civic groups. alone. If you’re a vic- Determine if a hate frustration and for tors, the public and, Create a diverse tim, report every group is involved, people’s desire to do worse, the victims. coalition. Include incident — in detail and research its sym- something. Hold a Decent people must children, police and — and ask for help. bols and agenda. unity rally or parade take action; if we the media. Gather If you learn about Understand the dif- to draw media atten- don’t, hate persists. ideas from everyone, a hate crime victim ference between a tion away from hate. and get everyone page 4 in your community, hate crime and a bias involved. page 12 show support. Let incident. page 6 victims know you page 10 care. Surround them with comfort and protection. page 8

2 6.UP SPEAK 7. LOBBY 8. LOOK 9. TEACH 10. DIG Hate must be LEADERS LONG RANGE TOLERANCE DEEPER exposed and Elected officials and Promote toler- Bias is learned early, Look inside your- denounced. Help other community ance and address usually at home. self for prejudices news organizations leaders can be bias before another Schools can offer and stereotypes. achieve balance important allies in hate crime can lessons of tolerance Build your own cul- and depth. Do not the fight against occur. Expand your and acceptance. tural competency, debate hate group hate. But some must community’s com- Sponsor an “I Have then keep working members in con- overcome reluctance fort zones so you a Dream” contest. to expose discrimi- flict-driven forums. — and others, their can learn and live Reach out to young nation wherever it Instead, speak up own biases — before together. people who may be happens — in hous- in ways that draw they’re able to take a susceptible to hate ing, employment, attention away from page 18 stand. group propaganda education and more. hate, toward unity. and prejudice. page 16 page 22 page 14 page 20

A list of resources begins on page 28

3 ten ways to fight hate 1.1. acactt 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 don’t, hate persists.

a hate group is coming to our town. What should I got involved,” Christine Iverson said. “The answer is we do?” simple. I was so upset after reading the article that I “I am very alarmed at hate crimes…What can I, as one had to do something. So I got up and made a phone call. person, do to help?” Everything else came from that moment of decision.” “I find myself wanting to act, to show support for the Iverson, a disaster response expert and minister for victims, to demonstrate my anger and sorrow… But I don’t Lutheran Social Services, called a friend involved in the know what to do or how to begin.” church’s anti-racism program. Then she called the vic- If you’ve opened this guide, you probably want to “do tim. Then she called a ministerial alliance and asked to something” about hate. You are not alone. Questions like be put on the agenda. She went to the meeting with four these arrive daily at the Southern Poverty Law Center. proposals: a letter to the editor, a prayer meeting, flier When a hate crime occurs or a hate group rallies, good distribution and a candlelight vigil. The alliance recom- people often feel helpless. We encourage you to act, for mended all four, and Iverson was put in charge. the following reasons: The result was a gathering of 300 people, a speech by Hate is an open attack on tolerance and decency. It must the mayor, news accounts of the rally, and the formation be countered with acts of goodness. Sitting home with of a unity committee within the church alliance. More your virtue does no good. In the face of hate, silence is than 150 people marched for the first time in a Martin deadly. Apathy will be interpreted as acceptance – by the Luther King Jr. Day parade, and an essay contest was perpetrators, the public and, worse, the victims. If left created on the theme “We Have a Dream.” unchallenged, hate persists and grows. “There is still a lot of work to be done,” Iverson said, Hate is an attack on a community’s health. Hate tears soci- “but we are beginning to do the work together.” ety along racial, ethnic, gender and religious lines. The U.S. Department of Justice warns that hate crimes, Do Something more than any other crime, can trigger larger commu- When hate happens, we are faced with two choices: nity conflict, civil disturbances and even riots. For all Do nothing, and let hate go unchallenged. their “patriotic” rhetoric, hate groups and their freelance Or do something — rise up, speak up and stand up imitators are really trying to divide us; their views are against hate. fundamentally anti-democratic. True patriots fight hate. People across the country routinely choose the Hate escalates. Take seriously the smallest hint of latter, making differences, small and large, in their hate — even what appears to be simple name-calling. communities. The Department of Justice again has a warning: Slurs > A sixth-grade class in Morgantown, W.V., painted often escalate to harassment, harassment to threats and over skinhead graffiti on the outside wall of a conve- threats to physical violence. Don’t wait to fight hate. nience store. Their teacher had used the graffiti to discuss hatred and violence. After watching “Not In Our One Phone Call Town,” a video of how Billings, Mont., fought hate, the When a cross was burned in the yard of a single mother of children concluded that, left to stand, the graffiti would Portuguese descent in Rushville, Mo., one person’s actions convey community apathy. They became role models set in motion a community uprising against hatred. within Morgantown, with press coverage and congrat- “I have been asked many times since that night why ulations from the state attorney general.

4 > In 2002, a Sacramento, Calif., not once but twice after racist van- man spearheaded a campaign to dals destroyed it in 1985 and burned halt the sales of neo-Nazi clothing it to the ground in 1995. Discouraged at Target stores in his community, * and exhausted after the second inci- sparking nationwide change. A What Can dent and with continuous personal clothing line with “88” symbols — H threats to her safety, the 65-year-old is the eighth letter of the alphabet, You Do? white woman nonetheless fired up a and 88 is white-power code for “Heil Pick up the phone. Call 1,000-person, multiracial work force Hitler” — had been shipped to 1,100 friends and colleagues. Host that presented the congregation with Target stores nationwide. Joseph a neighborhood or commu- a new church in November 1998. Rodriguez, a Sacramento Target cus- nity meeting. Speak up in > When a white-power rock con- tomer, alerted the Southern Poverty church. Suggest some action. cert was announced in Traverse Law Center after being frustrated Sign a petition. Attend a City, Mich., a group of citizens cre- vigil. Lead a prayer. in his attempts to have the cloth- ated “Hate-Free TC.” In a day-long Repair acts of hate-fueled ing sales halted. Target eventually vandalism, as a neighbor- seminar, human rights experts edu- stopped selling the items and apol- hood or a community. cated local people about neo-Nazi ogized for “any discomfort” caused Use whatever skills and skinheads, their racist music and by the “88” clothing, saying it “does means you have. Offer your their connection to an international not and will not tolerate discrimina- print shop to make fliers. movement that includes Nazis, white tion in any form.” Share your musical talents at supremacists and the Christian > One woman, Ammie Murray a rally. Give your employees Identity church. They later held an of Dixiana, S.C., is credited with the afternoon off to attend. alternative rock concert, and the rebuilding the tiny black congre- Be creative. Take action. publicity forced cancellation of the gation of St. John Baptist Church Do your part to fight hate. white-power gathering.

5 ten ways to fight hate 2.2. ununiteUniteite Call a friend or co-worker. Organize allies from churches, schools, clubs and other civic groups. Create a diverse coalition. Include children, police and the media. Gather ideas from everyone, and get everyone involved.

OTHERS SHARE YOUR instinct for tolerance. There is together, human rights groups and law enforcement offi- power in numbers in the fight against hate. Asking for help cials can track early warning signs of hate brewing in a and organizing a group reduces personal fear and vulner- community, allowing for a rapid and unified response. ability, spreads the workload and increases creativity and > Go door-to-door in the neighborhood targeted by a impact. Coalitions for tolerance can stand up to — and iso- hate group, offering support and inviting participation late — organized hate groups. You and your allies can help in a rally, candlelight vigil or other public event. Put up educate others as you work to eradicate hate. ribbons or turn on porch lights as symbolic gestures. A hate crime often creates an opportunity for a com- Declare a “Hate Free Zone” with a poster contest and a munity’s first dialogue on race, homophobia or prejudice. unity pledge. Set up a booth in a local mall to collect sig- It can help bridge the gap between neighborhoods and natures on the pledge. Buy an ad to publicize the pledge law enforcement. More people than we imagine want to and the contest winners. do something; they just need a little push. As the creator > Fashion an appropriate, local response, but gather of Project Lemonade found, “There are plenty of people ideas from other towns that have faced hate events. A good of good conscience out there.” starting point is a group viewing of the PBS video Not in our Town. It tells the story of an inspiring fight against First Steps … white supremacists in Billings, Mont. (See story, page 9.) Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas: > Call the circle around you, including family, neighbors, co- workers, people in your church, synagogue or civic club. Meet informally at first. > Call on groups that are likely to respond to a hate event, includ- ing faith alliances, labor unions, teachers, women’s groups, uni- versity faculties, fair housing councils, the “Y” and youth groups. Make a special effort to involve businesses, schools, houses of worship, politicians, children and members of minor- ity and targeted groups. Also call on local law > Four children meet at a Community Cousins enforcement officials. Work gathering, designed to repair rifts in a divided to create a healthy relation- community in Southern California. ship with local police; working

6 DIANE BOCK Big* Stories/Little Seeds

Project Lemonade stay away from the Klan rally; Said Faust: “Imagine a city where they are looking for a fight. The every car displays the sticker. Think Bill and Lindy Seltzer, a Klan will leave, and the commu- of the message that would send. Jewish couple in Springfield, Ill., nity will have the last say. It will Think of how blacks and whites were frustrated that the First be a positive one.” would feel in such a place.” Amendment gave neo-Nazis the In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, for The 200-member group also right to march in public rallies. example, the $28,000 raised sponsors regular, candid discus- So they devised a way to turn during one white-supremacist sions on race. hate’s sourness into something rally supported human rights The efforts of Faust and sweet. Project Lemonade, now causes. In Boyertown, Pa., Project Thompson were recognized by used in dozens of communities Lemonade so irritated the Klan then-President Bill Clinton, who across the country, raises money that the hate group threatened to included their group in a “Promising for tolerance causes by collect- sue organizers for raising money Practices” list as part of his Initiative ing pledges for every minute of a “on our name.” Money raised on Race. hate-group event. there went for library books on The Seltzers organized their black history. first Project Lemonade dur- ing a 1994 Ku Klux Klan rally in Every Second Springfield. Using school equip- David Duke ment, they copied and mailed Counts thousands of pledge fliers. Then and Eracism Keith Orr, an activist in Ann they held a press conference to After former Klan leader Arbor, Mich., used the Project announce the unique event. They David Duke’s 1991 run for governor Lemonade model to create an raised $10,000. When People shook up Louisiana, The Times- “Every Second Counts” campaign magazine picked up the story, Picayune of New Orleans published in response to a 2001 rally by the the idea spread nationwide. an in-depth series on race relations, viciously anti-gay Fred Phelps. The Seltzers created a kit for “Together Apart,” which included Orr knew a direct confron- other communities that included hundreds of letters and phone tation would actually add fuel practical advice: “Schedule an comments from readers. to Phelps fiery hate speech, so organizational meeting with Bookstore owner Rhoda Faust, instead, he sought pledges to community leaders, arrange for a white woman, wrote: “Let’s think support a local gay-advocacy a local telephone number and of ways to let each other know group. With pennies and dol- answering machine, recruit vol- that we love and respect one lars coming from as far away as unteers, raise seed money, carry another as God’s fellow creatures.” California and New Hampshire, a supply of cover letters and Brenda Thompson, a black woman, Orr raised nearly $7,500. pass them out. Involve the police. responded, calling for “some sort of Orr then helped people in Invite the media. Schedule press symbol, something to let the world Madison, Wis., organize a simi- conferences. Try to be inter- know that all of us aren’t infected lar response to Phelps, raising viewed for radio and TV talk with … hate.” $6,000 more for the local Gay, shows. Keep Project Lemonade in The two met for coffee, and the Lesbian and Straight Education the media as much as possible.” group “Erace” was born. Network. Lindy also warned would-be Their slogan, “Eracism — all col- As Orr said later: “Fred Phelps organizers to expect hate calls. ors with love and respect,” is now himself may as well have written “Ignore them. Stay positive and carried on more than 30,000 bum- the check. It was his bigotry that respectful. Encourage people to per stickers, distributed by Erace. pushed people to give.”

7 ten ways to fight hate 3.3. ssupupppoortrt ththee vivictimctimss Hate crime victims are especially vulnerable, fearful and alone. If you’re a victim, report every incident—in detail—and ask for help. If you learn about a hate crime victim in your community, show support. Let victims know you care. Surround them with comfort and protection.

VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES feel terribly alone and to a safer location. afraid. They have been attacked simply for being who > When a church in Manchester, N.H., was vandal- they are — their skin color, their ethnicity, their sexual ized with racist and hateful graffiti, other houses of orientation. Silence amplifies their isolation; it also tac- worship showed solidarity by leaving their lights on all itly condones the act of hate. Victims need a strong, quick night, all across town. “An attack against your church is message that they are valued. Small acts of kindness — a an attack against all our congregations,” Rabbi Arthur phone call, a letter – can help. Starr explained. Often, hate attacks include vicious symbols: a burning cross, a noose, a swastika. Such symbols evoke a history of hatred. They also reverberate beyond individual vic- Rockford, Ill., residents organized a "Not in Our Town" rally to focus attention on intergroup tension. Supporters signed a tims, leaving entire communities vulnerable and afraid. petition to oppose bigotry and promote tolerance. And because they may fear “the system,” some victims may welcome the presence of others at the police station or courthouse. Local human rights organizations often pro- vide such support, but individuals also may step forward. With that in mind, consider some of the many ways individuals and communities have risen up to support victims of hate: > As white supremacists marched in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a number of families invited black and Latino neighbors to dinner. “Just as a way of saying, ‘You are welcome,’” said one host. > In Montgomery, Ala., after hate mail and nails were thrown at black families in a formerly all-white neigh- borhood, a woman left a rose and a card, telling them, “You are not alone.” > When vandals spray-painted racial slurs, swastikas and references to the Ku Klux Klan on the driveway and home of a resident in a small Florida town near Tampa, neighbors showed up with a pressure-washer and paint to remove and cover up the hateful graffiti. > After white supremacists harassed a Sacramento family, a labor union provided round-the-clock security. > At Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., admin- istrators moved final exams for harassed black students

8 holly mcqueen/rockford register star If You Are a Victim Henderson of Chicago filed suit against the perpetra- We urge hate victims to report crimes to police. tor. A federal jury awarded them $720,000. Only you can decide whether to reveal your identity. But many victims have found the courage to lend their Not in Our Town names to fighting hate. If you decide to speak up: Christmas was just around the corner in 1993 when Report every incident. If you are a targeted minority, Billings, Mont., entered a white-supremacist hell. harassment could continue. What began as egg throw- Jewish graves were vandalized. Native American ing at five black families in rural Selbrook, Ala., escalated homes were sprayed with epithets like “Die Indian.” for 18 months until hate mail made it a federal offense. Skinheads harassed a black church congregation. But The story made the news, police patrolled and harass- these events received scant notice — until 5-year-old ment declined. Isaac Schnitzer’s holiday peace was shattered. Speak to the press. Your story, with a frank discussion On Dec. 2, a chunk of cinder block broke his upstairs of the impact on your family life, can be a powerful moti- window. The window displayed a menorah, a row of vator to others. Copycat crimes are possible, but rare. candles lighted at Hanukkah. Responding police urged More likely, you’ll be encouraged by love and support. In his mother, Tammie Schnitzer, to take down all their Watertown, N.Y., a black minister talked about the vul- Jewish symbols. She refused and said so boldly in a gar hate mail he received. His community held a special news story. unity rally. “Denying that racism exists, or not talking As if suddenly aware of hate in its midst, Billings about it, will not cause it to go away,” he said. responded. Vigils were held. Petitions were signed. A Research your legal rights. After enduring racial slurs, painters’ union led 100 people in repainting houses. slashed tires, broken windows, the wounding of their Within days, the town erupted in menorahs — pur- dog, and a six-foot burning cross planted in their yard chased at K-mart, photocopied in church offices and by their white neighbor, Andrew Bailey and Sharon printed in the Billings Gazette — displayed in thousands of windows. Mrs. Schnitzer took her son for a ride through town to look at all the menorahs. “Are they Jewish, too?” a wide-eyed Isaac asked. “No,” she said, “they’re friends.” Rick Smith, the manager of a local sporting goods store, was so moved by events that he changed the sales pitch on his street marquee. Instead of an ad for school letter jackets, he mounted, in foot-high letters: “Not in Our Town. No Hate. No Violence. Peace on Earth.” The marquee got national exposure, and “Not in Our Town” became a famous slogan. It went on to title a Hollywood movie, a PBS special, a school musical and a tolerance movement in more than 30 states. Not in Our Town, with its forceful message to hate groups, is now spread by The Working Group, a non- profit production company that produced the video,Not In Our Town. Subsequent videos show what communi- ties around the country have done to fight hate. Margaret MacDonald was among those who ignited the anti-hate movement in Billings. A decade after the events, she still is moved. “The story of Billings embodies how people believe the world ought to be,” she said. “It touches on First Amendment responsibilities (and) civic responsibility; it’s about multiple faiths finding ways to validate each others’ liberties and freedoms. It’s a transformation of violence and hate into peace-making.”

9 ten ways to fight hate 4.4. dodo yyoourur hhoomemewwoorkrk An informed campaign improves its effectiveness. Determine if a hate group is involved, and research its symbols and agenda. Understand the difference between a hate crime and a bias incident.

eruptIONS OF HATE generally produce one of two Though their views may be couched in code words, mem- reactions: apathy (“It’s just an isolated act by some bers of hate groups typically share these extremist views: kooks”) or fear (“The world is out of control”). Before > They want to limit the rights of certain groups. reacting, communities need accurate information about > They want to divide society along racial, ethnic or those who are spouting hate. religious lines. The Southern Poverty Law Center tracks more than > They believe in conspiracies. 900 organized U.S. hate groups, virtually all white > They try to silence any opposition. supremacists but including black separatist groups as > They are antigovernment and fundamentalist. well. Some are tiny — a handful of men — but armed And yet, most hate crimes are not committed by mem- with a computer, e-mail and a website, their reach can bers of hate groups. The SPLC estimates that fewer than be immense, their message capable of entering a child’s 5 percent of hate crimes can be linked to members of hate private bedroom. groups. The majority appear to be the work of “freelance” In their literature and websites, hate groups rail at perpetrators, typically young males who are looking for growing immigrant populations that will make whites a minor- ity in this century. Like some of their broth- ers-in-arms in militia groups, they also spread fears of losing control of America to a “One World Government” dominated by Jewish bankers, multinational corporations and the United Nations. More often than not, mem- bers of hate groups blame scapegoats for their personal failures, low self-esteem, anger and frustration. They frequently act under the influence of alcohol or drugs, recruiting dis- Fred Phelps brings his vile anti-gay messages to affected teens through communities across America. music and other means.

10 AP WIDE WORLD PHOTO thrills, defending turf or trying to blame someone else from other neighbors’ yards and called police. “I just felt for their troubles. Rarely are they acting from deeply dirty after looking at it; I wanted to go and wash my held ideology; instead, they attack targeted groups ran- hands.” domly, choosing whoever is convenient. While these Leafleting is a common practice of U.S. hate groups. young men act independently, it is hate groups — mix- It happens across the country, in cities small and large. ing stereotypes with a culture of violence — that often Typically, no laws are broken. But it’s important to provide the dehumanizing report the incidents to rhetoric that may foster police so they can track such attacks. hate groups. Joe Roy of the Southern When Hate Hits Your * Poverty Law Center’s Doorstep What's a Hate Crime? Intelligence Project, In 2003, Rebecca Hines A hate crime must meet two criteria: which tracks U.S. hate w a l k e d o u t o f h e r groups, said leafleting > A crime must happen, such as physical assault, Montgomery, Ala., home is a form of recruitment intimidation, arson or vandalism; and to find hate at her door- that can lead to new hate- step. It arrived in a way > The crime must be motivated, in whole or in part, group chapters forming in hate often arrives: an by bias. a community. anonymous flier from a The list of biases included in hate crime statutes “By keeping up with known hate group. varies. Most include race, ethnicity and religion. how often a group is leaf- The leaflets, placed in Some also include sexual orientation, gender leting, and what group is plastic bags and weighted and/or disability. In some cases, these statutes distributing, authorities down with everything apply only to specific situations, such as housing can get an idea of how from pennies to cat litter, discrimination. active a group or chap- were filled with racist As you respond to a hate crime, check spe- ter is in the area, and how a n d a n t i - i m m i g r a n t cific statutes in your area, then consider working sophisticated,” Roy said. propaganda. They echoed to add missing categories, such as protections for Roy and others advise the 14-word anthem of people who are gay, lesbian or transgender. taking the following steps: many white supremacist > Contact city officials groups: “We must secure What’s a Bias Incident? about the incident. They the existence of our A bias incident is conduct, speech or expression can denounce the hate people and a future for that is motivated by bias or prejudice but doesn’t activity publicly. white children.” involve a criminal act. > L e a r n c o m m o n Hines used the inci- hate-group slogans and dent to educate her two What’s the Difference? symbols, so you can recog- pre-teen sons about hate Hate crimes, if charged and prosecuted, will be nize any further activity. groups. dealt with in the court system. They typically carry > Talk to your children, “This is an ugly thing enhanced penalties, such as longer sentences. your neighbors and others to happen, but it is a way Bias incidents occur with no clear path or proce- about the incident, shar- to start that dialogue with dure for recourse. ing what you know about your kids, too,” she said. Both, however, demand unified and unflinch- the hate groups involved. “It’s better than waiting ing denouncement from individuals, groups and Use the incident as an for them to find out on entire communities. opportunity to reinforce their own.” your own values about Hines also brought the What’s the Impact? tolerance and acceptance. leafleting incident to the Hate crimes and bias incidents don’t just victimize > Offer additional attention of her neighbor- individuals; they torment entire communities. support to targeted neigh- hood association. When someone scrawls threatening graf- bors. If the leaflets focus “It made me sick to my fiti targeting Asian Americans, for example, the on specific residents or stomach,” said another entire community of Asian Americans may feel homes, create neighbor- neighbor, Danna Goodson. frightened and unsafe, as may members of other hood-watch teams, hold Goodson picked up leaflets ethnic or racial groups. vigils and show solidarity.

11 ten ways to fight hate 5.5. crcreateeate anan alalternativeternative Do not attend a hate rally. Find another outlet for anger and frus- tration and for people’s desire to do something. Hold a unity rally or parade to draw media attention away from hate.

HATE HAS A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. Courts emphasizing strength in community and diversity. They have routinely upheld the constitutional right of the have included picnics, parades and unity fairs featuring Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups to hold rallies and food, music, exhibits and entertainment. These events say what they want. Communities can restrict group give people a safe outlet for the frustration and anger movements to avoid conflicts with other citizens, but they want to vent. As a woman at a Spokane human rights hate rallies will continue. Your efforts should focus on rally put it, “Being passive is something I don’t want to channeling people away from hate rallies and toward do. I need to make some kind of commitment to human tolerance. rights.” > When the Klan announced plans to clean up Do Not Attend a Hate Rally shoulders and ditches along a stretch of road under the As much as you’d like to physically show your opposition Adopt-a-Highway program in Palatine, Ill. — and offi- to hate, shout back or throw something, confronta- cials realized they couldn’t stop it — local teenagers tions serve only the perpetrators. They also burden law flooded City Hall with so many applications that they enforcement with protecting hate-mongers against oth- claimed every inch of highway earmarked for the pro- erwise law-abiding citizens. gram and pushed the Klan onto a waiting list. “Truth and > In Memphis, Tenn., a riot broke out between love and kindness and caring won out over hate,” Mayor Klansmen and counter-demonstrators on Martin Luther Rita Mullins said. “It restored my faith in humanity.” King Jr.’s birthday. More than 100 police threw tear gas > Pulaski, Tenn., the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan canisters and arrested 20 anti-Klan demonstrators while in 1866, closed its doors to white supremacists attempt- protecting the Klan’s right to rally and speak. ing to rally there. Racists found the town closed for > Ann Arbor, Mich., was stung by a rally in which 300 business, including McDonald’s, the grocery store and police officers failed to protect the Klan from a chanting Wal-Mart. “They couldn’t find a place to get a hamburger crowd that threw rocks and sticks, hurting seven police- or even go to the bathroom,” the mayor said. In subse- men and destroying property. The Klan members were quent years, the Klan rally became a joke, and even the able to stand on the First Amendment, surrounded by media got bored with it. “Last year no one came,” the what one of their leaders called “animal behavior.” mayor said. “The year before that, the only TV was the > A 25-minute march by the Aryan Nations through Comedy Channel.” 15 blocks of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, cost the state, county > When the Klan came to Indianapolis, local muse- and city more than $125,000 for public safety. Mayor ums, the state capitol and other attractions opened Steve Judy described this as money spent to protect free their doors to citizens for free. Community leaders held speech. “But we could have taken the money and done a a youth rally in a ballroom. A huge coalition, including lot for human rights with it.” the mayor and the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, placed a full-page ad in The Indianapolis Star deploring the Klan. A World of Ideas Every act of hatred should be met with an act of love An Alternative to Hate in Maine and unity. On Oct. 1, 2002, the mayor of Lewiston, Maine, sent an Many communities facing a hate group rally have held open letter to the town’s growing Somali community. alternative events at the same hour, some distance away, He told them the town was “maxed-out, physically and

12 Somali girls Farhiya Ali, left, and Hibat Shrif, walk with hundreds of community supporters in Lewiston, Maine. emotionally” from what the press began to call a Somali Southern Poverty Law Center, the group chose not to “invasion.” engage the hate groups directly, but rather to send a sep- By that point, about 1,100 Somali immigrants lived in arate, stronger message against hate. Lewiston, a city of about 36,000 residents. “We invited everyone together … and brought everyone One Somali resident told a local newspaper he was under one umbrella,” the Rev. Mark Schlotterbeck said. shocked by the sentiment in the mayor’s letter. “He Added James Carignan, a professor and dean at Bates thinks he’s mayor for only white residents,” Mohamed College, referring to the planned hate rally: “This is not Driye said. “He’s not only their mayor. He’s our mayor, who we are, and we have to make sure people know that.” too.” Others, in a letter, described the mayor as “an ill- The umbrella group, calling itself the Many and One informed leader … bent toward bigotry.” Coalition, planned teach-ins and a diversity rally for the Two hate groups — the National Alliance and what same day, in a different location. was then known as the World Church of the Creator The result? More than 4,000 attended the Many and — saw an opportunity for “outreach.” They planned a One event, while fewer than 100 showed up at the hate rally. January 2003 rally in Lewiston, hoping to attract dis- Ziad Hamzeh later made a film about Lewiston; The gruntled, anti-immigrant residents. Their own “open” Letter has played at film festivals across the country, letter to the town began with this greeting: “Dear fel- drawing praise and garnering awards. low white people.” “I went to Lewiston thinking, ‘What do these people Somalis and their many supporters in Lewiston have to teach me?’ And they taught me a lot,” Hamzeh planned an alternative event. Local churches, students and said. “They taught me to be a better American, a better dozens of concerned residents joined the effort. human being. I was able to relearn and re-experience Working with hate group experts, including the again what America is.”

AP WIDE WORLD PHOTO 13 ten ways to fight hate 6.6. sspepeakak upup Hate must be exposed and denounced. Help news organizations achieve balance and depth. Do not debate hate group members in conflict-driven forums. Instead, speak up in ways that draw atten- tion away from hate, toward unity.

GOODNESS HAS A FIRST Amendment right, too. Citizen, he resigned and closed his website. “I don’t want We urge you to denounce hate groups and hate crimes to have this plastered all over the place,” he said. and to spread the truth about hate’s threat to a plural- > Floyd Cochran, a former recruiter for the Aryan istic society. An informed and unified community is the Nations, recalls the night he and founder Richard best defense against hate. Butler traveled to tiny Sandpoint, Idaho, to intimidate a You can spread tolerance through church bulletins, human relations meeting. When they found 300 people, door-to-door fliers, websites, local cable TV bulletin they were intimidated themselves. “I didn’t go back to boards, letters to the editor and print advertisements. Sandpoint because of the turnout,” Cochran said. Hate shrivels under strong light. Beneath their neo-Nazi exteriors, hate purveyors are cowards, surprisingly sub- Dealing with Media ject to public pressure and ostracism. Some tips for an effective media campaign: > When the 20-year-old “national leader” of the Aryan > News outlets cover hate crimes and groups. Don’t Nations in Canada was exposed by the Prince George kill the messenger. Consider hate news a wake-up call, revealing tension in the community. Attack the problem. Reporters will then cover you, too. > Name a press contact for your group. This keeps the message consistent and allows the press to quickly seek comment or reaction to events. Invite the press to all your meetings. > The media like news hooks and catchy phrases, such as “Hate Free Zone.” Propose human-interest stories, such as the impact of hate on individuals. Use signs, balloons or other props that will be attractive to media photographers. College students joined many > Educate reporters, others to protest a Klan editors and publishers march in Sharpsburg, Md. about hate groups, their symbols and their effect on

14 AP WIDE WORLD PHOTO victims and communities. Put them in touch with hate experts like the Southern Poverty Law Center. Urge edi- * torial stands against hate. A Message for > Criticize the press when it falls short. Remind edi- tors that it is not fair to focus on 20 Klansmen when 300 the Media people attend a peace rally. > Do not debate white supremacists or other hate Share this with media contacts you know, or group members on conflict-driven talk shows or public simply photocopy it and mail it to an editor, forums. Your presence lends them legitimacy and pub- anchor, columnist or reporter: licity, they use code words to cover their hate beliefs, and they misinterpret history and Bible verses in a man- A newsroom that covers race issues thoroughly ner that is difficult to counter under time constraints. and regularly sets an agenda for the community. Nuanced and thoughtful coverage — rather than A Tale of Two Towns shallow, knee-jerk stories or images — deepens our When the Ku Klux Klan held a rally in Sharpsburg, community’s discussion and understanding of race. Md., just nine Klan supporters showed up, “marching” two blocks, behind a police barrier, then leaving on the Consider the following: same rented Trailways bus they drove in on. > The masked, mysterious Klansman, like his burning Meanwhile, many others — more than 30 times the cross, is an emotional image loaded with historical number of Klansmen marching up Hall Street — spoke associations. Don’t let this cliché control the story. up in much louder and more effective ways. Include a serious look at the Klan’s numbers and About 40 area groups and businesses planned sev- influence, its involvement in hate crimes, and the eral alternative events in Sharpsburg and neighboring hypocrisy of its pseudo-Christian message. Keedysville — all this from a combined population of fewer than 1,400 people. > Don’t allow hate groups to masquerade as white- About 60 people attended a morning interfaith ser- pride civic groups. In their literature and on their vice. More than 100 turned out for an outdoor concert websites, they denigrate certain scapegoats, typi- that afternoon, near Sharpsburg. More than 40 young cally people of color and Jews. Gather comments people, ages 10 to 20, gathered at a local pizzeria. And from local police, state human rights commissions, more than 100 others attended a celebration of diver- the Southern Poverty Law Center or the Anti- sity in Keedysville. Defamation League. “The Klan has a First Amendment right to free speech, but I also have the right to say that’s not what > Klan and other white supremacist rallies represent I believe in, that’s not what my community stands for,” the outer margin of American society. No meaningful said Amanda Reed of Sharpsburg, who helped organize dialogue on race can occur when it is framed by such the alternative events. extremes. Seek deeper, more thoughtful coverage of Others also spoke out against the Klan. A local issues of race and other -isms. Waffle House used its letter-board sign to send a mes- sage: “Teach love not war.” A red Ford Explorer carried As a final thought, we ask you to: another sign: “Hate is not welcome here.” And every- Take hate crimes seriously and report them promi- where people wore specially made T-shirts that said, nently. Consider an annual “race report card.” Give “We believe in love, not hate in Washington County.” reporters time to cover the Klan and other hate The gatherings earned local and regional press cover- groups in depth, beyond an annual parade. Cover the age that provided a balance to the hate message of the Klan. impact of hate on victims and other members of tar- While the single day was a success, many residents get groups. Become an activist against hate, just as said long-term change — change that would never you are against crime. Sponsor a forum or other com- allow the Klan to feel welcome in either town again munity journalism event tied to these issues. And — is the ultimate goal. don’t miss the “good news” as ordinary people strug- As organizer Jerry Randell, explained: “If things gle with homegrown ways to promote tolerance. keep happening after this day, that’s how we’ll know You are part of our community, and you must be we’re successful.” part of our fight against hate.

15 ten ways to fight hate 7.7. lloobbbbyy leleaaddererss Elected officials and other community leaders can be important allies in the fight against hate. But some must overcome reluctance—and others, their own biases—before they’re able to take a stand.

THE FIGHT AGAINST HATE needs community lead- communities. Silence, on the other hand, can be inter- ers willing to take an active role. Mayors and police preted as the acceptance of hate. chiefs, college presidents and school principals, local > Encourage leaders to name the problem. Local lead- clergy and corporate CEOs: Their support and leader- ers sometimes try to minimize incidents fueled by hate ship can help your community address the root causes of or bias, not calling them hate crimes. As a result, victims hate and help turn bias incidents into experiences from and their communities can feel silenced, and national which your community can learn and heal. hate crimes statistics become inaccurate. “Only when When leaders step forward and act swiftly in the wake we know the true level and nature of hate crime in the of a hate incident, victims feel supported, community U.S. will we be able to allocate resources in an effective members feel safe, and space for action and dialogue way to combat it,” advises Mark Potok, director of the can grow. Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project. Too often, the fear of negative publicity, a lack of > Lobby for action. To heal in the wake of a bias inci- partnerships with affected communities, and a failure dent — and to grow into a more resilient community to understand the root causes of hate and bias can pre- — requires more than official statements. It also takes vent leaders from stepping up. Their silence creates a hard work. Ask your community leaders to walk the vacuum in which rumors spread, victims feel ignored talk. Ask for their public support and involvement in ral- and perpetrators find tacit acceptance. lies, community meetings and long-term solutions that address the root causes of intolerance. Steps to Take Here are steps for a healthy community: When Leaders Show Bias — or Inaction > Form relationships with community leaders before Sometimes, elected officials, law enforcement and com- a hate incident occurs. If your community group already munity leaders are the source of bias and hate. The has a relationship with the mayor, for example, you will effects of officially sanctioned intolerance can be long be better positioned to ask for a public statement in the lasting. It can take a special kind of organizing to fight event of a hate crime. such bigotry. > Educate community leaders about the causes and > In early 2005, when Sheriff Mac Holcomb of effects of hate. Sometimes, well-intentioned leaders Marshall County, Ala., refused to remove a public letter don’t understand that bias-motivated actions can have decrying homosexuality as “despicable” and “an abom- far-reaching effects across a community. Educate leaders ination” from the county’s website, local residents and about the impact of hate and the root causes of intoler- others from across the country wrote thousands of let- ance, so their response can match the incident. ters of protest. After sustained community pressure > Demand a quick, serious police response. The vigor- and a significant amount of media attention, the county ous investigation and prosecution of hate crimes attracts finally removed the offensive material. media attention to issues of tolerance and encourages the > A week after the 9.11 terrorist attacks, U.S. Rep. public to stand up against hate. John Cooksey, R-La., told reporters that everyone with > Demand a strong public statement by political a “diaper on his head” should be considered a suspect. leaders. When elected officials issue proclamations After outcry from his constituents, Cooksey apologized, against hate, it helps promote tolerance and can unify but the damage was done: His remark offered tacit

16 Mourners gather at the state Capitol to remem- ber the life of Billy Jack Gaither, a gay man beaten to death in rural Alabama.

encouragement for an alarming wave of hate crimes Instead, their plea to local leaders was so persuasive that against Arab Americans, Muslims, Sikhs and citizens of within hours of meeting with ACT members, Police Chief South Asian descent. John Wilson named the state’s first hate crimes officer. > When Nashville-area minister Maury Davis called ACT met with Chief Wilson to voice concerns about Islam “the evil religion” and “the greatest threat to the several local hate crimes against Muslims. The group also American way of life” in early 2002, the local Islamic com- expressed their worry that other bias-motivated crimes munity quickly organized. Local Christian leaders also were going unreported and undocumented. stepped up as allies, making a public stand against hate. “Security was high on the agenda, and there was a problem that needed to be solved,” said O’Kane. “I think More Than They Asked For (the police) were glad to see people walking through the When a group of residents in Montgomery, Ala., joined door who were willing to help and who could provide forces to counter the burgeoning post-9.11 backlash them with some information about the problem.” against Arab and Muslim Americans, they had no idea Before meeting with ACT, said Chief Wilson, “It was their efforts would result in the appointment of the first hard for us to get something off the ground, because hate crimes officer in Alabama history. there was nothing else like it in this area. We didn’t really “All that we had really hoped for was to get some sort know what we needed.” of public statement from local leaders about the back- Now, after community involvement, the Montgomery lash,” said Trish O’Kane, secretary for the Alliance for Police Department has one full-time hate crimes officer Civility and Tolerance. and another officer trained as a backup.

VALERIE DOWNES 17 ten ways to fight hate 8.8. llooookk lloongng rarangenge Promote tolerance and address bias before another hate crime can occur. Expand your community’s comfort zones so you can learn and live together.

HATE USUALLY DOESN’T STRIKE communities become a major celebration of Mexican culture. from some distant place. It often begins at home, brewing > Break bread together. The Cornbread Club in silently under the surface. Hate can grow out of divided Lubbock, Texas, brings together people of different eth- communities, communities in which residents feel pow- nicities and income levels. The group has no agenda, no erless or voiceless, communities in which differences are speakers and only one rule at its monthly dinners at a the cause of fear instead of celebration. local cafeteria: Sit next to someone you don’t know. The best cure for hate is a tolerant, united community. > Move from prayer to action. In California’s San As Chris Boucher of Yukon, Penn., put it after residents Fernando Valley, an interfaith council formed “home there opposed a local meeting of the Ku Klux Klan, “A dialogues,” with people from different faiths and cul- united coalition is like Teflon. Hate can’t stick there.” tures meeting together in their homes. In Covington, Hate exists “because the ground in the area is receptive Ky., churchwomen conducted a letter-writing campaign for it,” says Steven Johns Boehme, leader of the Michigan to support hate crime legislation; they later promoted Ecumenical Forum. “If you drop the seeds of prejudice in teacher training in race relations. soil that is not receptive, they won’t take root.” > Begin a community conversation on race. Experts say the first step in changing hearts is to Discussion groups, book clubs, Internet chat rooms and change behavior. Personal changes are important — the library gatherings can bring people together. Effective positive statements you make about others, unlearning community conversations allow individuals to tell their assumptions about people who are different — but com- stories, their immigration history, their daily encounters munitywide changes are instrumental, too. with discrimination, their fear about revealing sexual Often, either after a bias incident or as a tool for pre- orientation and so on. venting one, communities want to sponsor multicultural > Consider building something the community needs, food festivals and other events to celebrate differences. and use it as an organizing tool – from a teen center to These are important steps in helping community mem- a new playground. Make sure residents from different bers feel acknowledged and appreciated. We encourage backgrounds are included in the process. you to sponsor these — and we encourage you to go deeper. > Create a tolerance website or an online commu- nity discussion board. Coloradans United Against Hate Steps to Take — www.cuah.org — is an online “paperless organization” Not sure where to start? Consider the following: with a virtual billboard for posting stories and comments > Hold candlelight vigils, religious services and other on local hate issues. activities to bring people of different races, religions and ethnic groups together. In Boise, Idaho, Martin Luther Tolerance Networks King Jr.’s birthday has become an 11-day Human Rights From “human rights coalitions” to “peace and justice” Celebration. groups, many regions across the country are creating tol- > Honor history and mark anniversaries. In Selma, erance networks. Individual member organizations can Ala., a multicultural street fair is held on the anniversary organize their communities around issues of tolerance of Bloody Sunday, when voting rights activists attempted and social justice; combined, the networks make a pow- to walk across a bridge to Montgomery and were beaten erful force for responding to bias incidents and lobbying back by police. And in Denver, Cinco de Mayo has for change.

18 Students challenge social boundar- ies at school through the Mix It Up at Lunch program.

The Many and One Coalition, for example, formed The idea is simple: Bring together people from differ- in 2003 after a white supremacist group held a rally in ent backgrounds and belief systems, and provide them Lewistown, Maine. (See story, page 12.) with a safe space to air opinions and get to know each Following immediate activities surrounding a hate other. group rally, the Many and One Coalition has evolved It’s a formula that can be replicated anywhere. into a large-scale diversity organization, educating and In Montgomery, Ala., for example, about 30 mem- organizing residents, businesses and community-based bers of One Montgomery meet once a week over eggs organizations to address personal and systemic oppres- and biscuits. The diverse crowd — black and white, sion, like racism, sexism and homophobia. conservative and liberal — discusses, among other The coalition sponsors an annual statewide event things, housing, education and the city’s race relations. called, “10 Days of Community, Diversity and Justice.” They don’t always agree, say the group’s co-chairs, but The conference celebrates differences with activities then, that’s kind of the point. like a multicultural food fair. But it also helps residents “Several of us wouldn’t otherwise come in con- go further, providing a safe space in which participants tact with each other,” says Daniel Webster, one of One can talk about sensitive issues like race, sexual orienta- Montgomery’s two co-chairs, who is black and calls him- tion and religion. self conservative. “It’s been good for me because the mindset of a lot of members isn’t like the mindset of the Expanding Comfort Zones people I’m normally around.” The Connecticut-based Study Circles Resource Center Webster’s co-chair, Paula Weiss, who is white and helps communities look long range by creating dialogue calls herself a “tree-hugger,” agrees: “As soon as you groups in which residents discuss tolerance-related meet the so-called ‘enemy’ and hear what they have issues before tensions can boil over into bias incidents to say, without it being filtered through someone else and hate crimes. The group publishes a helpful hand- or the media, it makes a huge, huge difference.” book, “Organizing Community-wide Dialogue for Action For more information about community dialogue and Change.” groups, visit www.studycircles.org.

NICK VON STADEN / SUN-SENTINEL 19 ten ways to fight hate 9.9. teteachach ttoolelerancerance Bias is learned early, usually at home. Schools can offer lessons of tolerance and acceptance. Sponsor an “I Have a Dream” contest. Reach out to young people who may be susceptible to hate group propaganda and prejudice.

BIAS IS LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD. By age 3, chil- as those who are adopted or living with single parents. dren can be aware of racial differences and may have > Use art and theatre to help children understand the perception that “white” is desirable. By age 12, they the effects of discrimination and celebrate their differ- can hold stereotypes about ethnic, racial and religious ences. At Southeast Whitfield High School in Dalton, Ga., groups. Because stereotypes underlie hate, and because an English as a Second or Other Language class painted a almost half of all hate crimes are committed by young mural on their classroom wall. The activity provided an men under 20, tolerance education is critical. outlet for immigrant students to share part of their culture Schools are an ideal environment to counter bias, and discuss the challenges of moving to a new country. because they mix youth of different backgrounds, place > Teach older children to look critically at stereotypes them on equal footing and allow one-on-one interac- portrayed by the media. Ask them to close their eyes and tion. Children also are naturally curious about people imagine a lawyer, doctor, rap musician, gang member, who are different. bank president, hair stylist or criminal. What did they “see” and why? Confronted with their own stereotypes, In the Classroom children begin to question how they’ve been shaped by Here are some ideas: the media. > Acknowledge differences among students and cele- > Teach mediation skills to kids. At Mill Hill brate the uniqueness of everyone. In Debra Goldsbury’s Elementary School in Fairfield, Conn., a group of fifth- first-grade class in Seattle, children paint self-portraits, graders, selected because of their reputations as bullies, mixing colors to match their skin tone. They then name respond anonymously to letters from younger students their colors, which have included “gingerbread,” “melon” seeking advice on a range of school-related problems, and “terra cotta.” They learn that everyone has a color, like bullying and harassment. The program helps stu- that no one is actually “white.” dents develop empathy. > Create an “I Have a Dream” contest, in which stu- dents envision and describe an ideal community. In Beyond the Classroom North Berkshire, Mass., winning essays are reproduced Tolerance can be taught to your community as well. and rolled onto highway billboards donated by the Consider this case in Arizona: Callahan Outdoor Advertising Company. Amid increasingly virulent anti-immigrant sentiment, > Promote inclusion and fairness, but allow discus- the Coalicion de Derechos Humanos (Human Rights sions of all feelings, including bias learned at home and Coalition) holds weekly public vigils in Tucson to honor the street. Establish a “peace table” where children learn those who have lost their lives trying to cross the border to “fight fair,” perhaps with hand puppets in which con- from Mexico into the United States. flict is acted out. The group, which works to document human rights > Promote diversity by letting children tell stories abuses along the border, also keeps a list of border deaths, about their families, however different they may be. including age and cause of death: age 26, dehydration; age Diversity embraces not just race, but age, religion, mar- 18, hit by a car; age 43, gunshot wound; age 25, drowned; ital status and personal ability. Remember that charting age 19, heat stroke. “family trees” can be a challenge to some children, such “It hits home, with the specific information,” said Kat

20 Matt Cavedon, 14, of Connecticut, has become an advocate against bully- ing, profiled byScholastic News. His message: Don’t let bullying go unchal- lenged. “Anyone who sees something should do something,” he said. “Don’t just be bystanders; get involved.”

Rodriguez of Derechos Humanos. “It shows the cost of the failed and flawed border policies of the United States, *Five Steps for Parents the human cost.” 1. Examine your children’s textbooks and the curri- Responding to Bias on Campus cula at their schools to determine whether they are While most schools have plans in place to deal with fire, equitable and multicultural. bad weather and medical emergencies, few are prepared 2. Encourage teachers and administrators to adopt for bias incidents. diversity training and tolerance curricula, including But there are many things you can do. As educators, Teaching Tolerance magazine and other diversity it is critical that you speak up when bigotry comes from education materials. colleagues. In a survey of Teaching Tolerance readers, educators responded that the No. 1 source of biased lan- 3. Encourage your children to become tolerance guage on campus was other educators. When teachers activists. They can form harmony clubs, build multi- exhibit intolerant attitudes, students lose an important cultural peace gardens, sponsor “walk in my shoes” ally — and the harassers win. activities and join study circles to interact with chil- Teaching Tolerance offers programs to help schools dren of other cultures. become “safe zones.” 4. Examine the media your children consume, from Mix It Up encourages students to break down the social Internet sites to the commercials during their favor- boundaries that create cliques and lead to harmful stereo- ite TV shows. Stereotypes and issues of intolerance types and exclusion. During the annual Mix It Up at Lunch are bound to be present. Discuss these issues Day, students eat lunch while sitting next to someone they openly, as you would the dangers of sex and drugs. don’t know. Prompts from teachers or other students guide the conversation. Often combined with dialogue groups 5. Model inclusive language and behavior. Children sponsored by Study Circles, Mix It Up at Lunch Day has learn from the language you use and the attitudes helped millions of students across the country examine you model. If you demonstrate a deep respect for their own biases and overcome their fears of difference. other cultures, races and walks of life, most likely Visit www.mixitup.org for more information. they will, too.

AP WIDE WORLD PHOTO 21 ten ways to fight hate 1010.. ddigig ddeeeeperper Look inside yourself for prejudices and stereotypes. Build your own cultural competency, then keep working to expose discrimination wherever it happens—in housing, employment, education and more.

TOLERANCE, fundamentally, is a personal decision. It — the civil rights movement, the Chicano movement, the comes from an attitude that is learnable and embrace- fight for gay rights, for example — is a good start. able: a belief that every voice matters, that all people are valuable, that no one is “less than.” Fighting for Systemic Change We all grow up with prejudices. Acknowledging them Sooner or later, your personal exploration will bump up — and working through them — can be a scary and dif- against issues that take more than one person to solve. ficult process. It’s also one of the most important steps Investigating your own prejudices will reveal a coun- toward breaking down the walls of silence that allow try with deep, systemic and unresolved prejudice and intolerance to grow. Luckily, we all possess the power to discrimination. overcome our ignorance and fear, and to influence our These issues cry out for answers and people to take children, peers and communities. them on. Experts warn that if we fail to tackle the root causes of intolerance, the efforts described in this guide- It Begins With Me book will end up looking “like small points of light in a Human rights experts recommend starting with the lan- sea of overwhelming darkness.” guage we use and the assumptions we make about others. In any city and state there are dozens of problems to Am I quick to label people as “rednecks” or “illegals”? Do address: hunger, affordable housing, domestic violence, I tell gay jokes? Do I look with disdain at families on wel- school dropout rates, police brutality — the list goes on. fare, or do I try to understand the socio-economic forces A caring group of people, having coalesced to deal with that prevent many families from climbing out of poverty? hate, could remain together to tackle any number of soci- Here are other questions you might ask yourself: etal problems. > How wide is my circle of friends? How diverse is Luckily, most towns and cities have neighborhood or my holiday card list? citywide organizations that bring together people of dif- > How integrated is my neighborhood? My child’s ferent backgrounds to work for change. If yours does school? My workplace? Why is that? not, there are plenty of resources available to help you > Do I take economic segregation and environmental start one. racism for granted? Why not start today? > Do I have the courage to ask a friend not to tell a sex- ist or racist or homophobic joke in my presence? > Do I receive information about other cultures from members of those cultures, or from potentially biased, third-party sources? > Do I take the time to listen and learn from other people’s experiences — especially people with whom I might initially disagree? > How often am I in the minority? Many good books, films and workshops can help The most important guide you in self-examination. Reading the histories of other cultures and of different social justice movements step is the first one …

22 Newly sworn-in citizens join the multicultural fabric of the United States — and add to its richness.

getty images 23 ‘You Are Not Alone’ The words of an anti-hate activist echo throughout this guidebook, one woman who left a rose and a card on the doorstep of a hate-crime victim: “You are not alone.” Like her, individuals and groups across the country are tackling issues of intolerance with creativity, energy and passion. Below is a list of examples, one from every state, to help inspire ideas for change in your own community.

ALABAMA California and understanding. It holds community PEACE Birmingham (People Engaged in a As the nation’s oldest senior theater forums to discuss issues of prejudice Cultural Exchange) brings together teens company, Stagebridge in Oakland, uses and discrimination and offers annual for monthly dinner discussions to encour- workshops and theatrical performances sensitivity classes for the town’s incom- age respect and understanding among to dispel common myths and stereo- ing summer police force. African American and Jewish youth. types about aging. The company’s actors, storytellers, students and volun- Florida Alaska teers range in age from 50 to 95. The Non-Violence Project, based in A husband-and-wife team fosters Miami and led mostly by a staff of understanding through a 40-hour Colorado young adults, teaches young people Race and Healing course, designed for Citizens Project is a volunteer-driven alternatives to violent behavior. Among individuals, businesses and other orga- organization working to ensure the their programs are a peer-mediation nizations. The course promotes frank separation of church and state while group, a girls-only project that builds dialogue and honest self-assessment. encouraging respect for tolerance and self-esteem among young women, diversity. Among other things, the and a leadership program that teaches Arizona group raised public awareness when a communication skills. The Jewish Community Relations white-supremacist group came to town Council in Tucson drew 200 teach- and informed the public of politicians’ Georgia ers to its in-service program, “Teaching stances on gay and lesbian issues and From city parks to senior homes, from the Holocaust on the Path to Prejudice racial equality. pet shelters to food banks, Hands On Reduction.” The gathering featured Atlanta volunteers are at work every the director of Houston’s Holocaust Connecticut day of the year, building a sense of Museum as well as a detective from the Students and Teachers Against Racism community and addressing the needs Tucson Police Department who talked (STAR) uses research and education to of their city. Each year, HOA sponsors about bias and hate-motivated crimes. raise awareness about racism against the largest citywide day of service in Native Americans and helps victims of the United States. So far, volunteers Arkansas racism and discrimination have their have contributed more than 3 million The Women’s Project advocates alter- voices heard. The group has developed hours of service to programs impacting natives to prison sentences for women a series of seminars for teachers that the Atlanta community. convicted of non-violent crimes and include Native American speakers shar- protects the civil rights of the incar- ing personal and historical experiences. Hawaii cerated. They also offer HIV support The Na Loio Immigrant Rights and groups and domestic violence educa- Delaware Public Interest Legal Center provides tion for men incarcerated in Arkansas Create a More Positive Rehoboth free legal services, community edu- prisons, and publish an annual log of (CAMP Rehoboth) helps lessen tensions cation and advocacy for Hawaii’s bias and hate incidents in the state. between the gay and non-gay com- immigrants. The group tackles cases munity through dialogue, cooperation involving immigrant women and

24 children who are victims of domestic Kentucky to life in America and fosters a greater abuse. They also provide interpreters to Through leadership development and understanding of Arab culture both help abuse victims communicate with public education, the Kentucky Fairness inside and outside the United States. domestic violence shelters. Alliance seeks equality for all mem- bers of the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual Minnesota Idaho and transgender community. KFA has The Center for Cross Cultural Health Breaking Bread is a grassroots com- fought discriminatory legislation and in Minneapolis, Minn., aims to reduce munity-based program that helps highlights the connection between the health disparities among minor- residents meet, share experiences oppressions of all people. ity populations by promoting cultural and form friendships with people competence in healthcare. The group from diverse ethnic and racial groups. Louisiana works to ensure that patients receive The group meets about five times a The People’s Institute for Survival treatment that takes into account their year and has held seminars on white and Beyond sponsors a community ethnicity, language, religion and cul- privilege, race relations and Native workshop called “Undoing Racism/ tural beliefs. American tribal issues. Community Organizing,” which helps participants build strategies to reduce Mississippi Illinois racism by working together. A lesbian couple risked death threats Street-Level Youth Media works with and harassment to create Camp Sister young people ages 8 to 22, helping Maine Spirit, a picturesque feminist retreat them use media arts and technology as Among other things, Peace through and educational center. The camp is tools for self-expression, communica- Interamerican Community Action edu- open to all who share its mission of tion and social change. cates consumers about the role they empowerment and equality. Meeting play in supporting the global sweat- spaces are available for community Indiana shop industry and teaches residents groups and other organizations. CommUnity Religious Effort (CURE), how to encourage local businesses and brings together religious and civic lead- city governments to purchase “sweat- Missouri ers to examine the impact of — and free” apparel. Kansas City Harmony provides com- find solutions to — racism and vio- munitywide education and facilitation lence in the community. The group has Maryland programs. It also sponsors various reached out to local law enforcement, The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive celebrations promoting pride and prompting agencies to send officers to Education lobbies for the inclusion of appreciation for the city’s diverse the monthly meetings. students with disabilities in their neigh- population. borhood schools. The group uses a Iowa combination of community organizing, Montana First Friday Breakfast Club was formed individual advocacy and professional The Mai Wah Society in Butte is cre- as a response to the radical right’s development to make sure families are ating a permanent exhibit of Asian rabid opposition to the gay community. informed about options available to artifacts. In 2003, the group brought to The group has become an active force them. town a national exhibit about the Asian in the state and provides scholarships American experience. to college students who have worked Massachusetts for tolerance in their communities. The Food Project brings together Nebraska Boston-area youth from diverse back- Citizens for Equal Protection fights for Kansas grounds to grow organic vegetables that legislation and resolutions protecting Inter-Faith Ministries in Wichita edu- are then donated to local homeless shel- the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual cates and organizes people of all faiths ters or sold to urban farmers’ markets. and transgender community in hous- to dismantle racism within them- ing, employment and other areas. selves as well as within congregations Michigan and organizations. One program pairs The Arab Community Center for Nevada Muslims and non-Muslims to speak in Economic and Social Service helps Nevada Urban Indians Inc. provides the community, addressing stereotypes meet the needs of low-income families, free health care for the nearly 20,000 and misinformation. helps newly arrived immigrants adapt Native Americans living in Reno and

25 Carson City. And through community education, part watchdog. It lobbies Bridges,” an annual four-day confer- education programs, it also breaks ste- the state legislature to establish a state ence that has reached students from reotypes and misconceptions. Human Rights Commission and encour- more than 130 high schools, allow- ages women, people of color and people ing students to explore ways to reach New Hampshire with disabilities to run for public office. across racial and cultural barriers in People First is the only nonprofit in the their schools. state that is run completely by peo- Ohio ple who are disabled. Among other Kaleidoscope, a teen center for lesbian, South Dakota empowerment projects, it produces gay, bisexual and transgender youth, The Minority Peer Mentoring Program I Got That Right, a video about the offers a rec room, tech room and stage at South Dakota State University aims rights of people with disabilities on and entertainment area. The group to keep more minorities enrolled on such issues as voting, relationships and serves between 70 and 90 people ages campus. Older students, both minori- housing. 12 to 20 each month. ties and non-minorities, are matched with incoming students. Group activi- New Mexico Oklahoma ties include three workshops and three Through the New Mexico Alliance NAMI North Central Oklahoma offers socials each semester. for Hispanic Education, 144 golfers monthly meetings, hosts mental illness take part in three tournaments, rais- experts, and provides support ses- Texas ing $300,000 in scholarship money for sions for families. The group also works The Center for the Healing of Racism Latino students across the state. to change policies and programs that offers interactive workshops for adults make it difficult for people with mental and children that create safe space in New Jersey illness to find effective treatment. which participants can explore issues of The Center for the Study of White racism and privilege. American Culture collects and pro- Oregon duces essays and scholarly papers Love Makes a Family offers support Tennessee exploring white culture, white privilege groups for households led by lesbians, The Nashville chapter of the National and the role of white people in issues gays, bisexuals and transgendered peo- Conference for Community and Justice of race and racism. It also leads com- ple, an outreach group for LGBT youth offers programs that help younger stu- munity workshops and discussions that of color, an anti-bullying program for dents dispel stereotypes, identify bias help participants explore these issues. middle-schoolers and other programs. and reduce prejudice. For teenagers and college students, the programs are New York Pennsylvania dialogue-based, allowing students to Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Celebrating Diversity, in Pittsburgh, work through difficult issues associated Everyday sponsors 500 youth events uses social gatherings to promote with diversity. each year that promote respect for understanding and friendship among diversity and nonviolence through cre- people of different races, cultures and Utah ative outlets such as art, music, poetry religions. Founded by a Salt Lake City dentist and sports. alarmed by a string of hate crimes, Rhode Island Smiles for Diversity creates tolerance- North Carolina Progreso Latino offers a bilingual day themed materials for use in dental The Center for Diversity Education care center, adult education and citizen- office waiting rooms and school out- researches and compiles the histories of ship classes, an after-school and summer reach programs. It also publishes a marginalized people that often are left youth program, a meal program for the diversity-themed comic book called out of textbooks. Student researchers elderly, an HIV prevention program and Scrapyard Detectives. use archives, library records, interviews a workers’ rights program that addresses and online resources to help uncover issues of discrimination and mistreat- Vermont hidden history. ment of immigrant employees. The Beyond Difference program distrib- utes tolerance-themed picture books to North Dakota South Carolina teachers and librarians to help young The North Dakota Human Rights The Palmetto Project, among other children learn valuable lessons of diver- Coalition is part advocacy and things, offers “Building Cultural sity, inclusion and tolerance. More than

26 50 schools across the state have partic- remote area of Washington. Wyoming ipated in the program. Sponsored by Wyoming Equality, a West Virginia gay-rights advocacy organization, Virginia PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends Rendezvous is an annual gathering for The Augusta Coalition for Peace and of Lesbians and Gays) in West Virginia LGBT activists. The weeklong event Justice combines church groups, stu- offers outreach and education. One includes discussion groups, forums dent groups and labor unions — with a recent campaign involved sending anti- and lectures, policy discussions and range of diversity in terms of age and bullying materials to schools across the workshops. socioeconomic status — in its attempt state, aimed at protecting gay, lesbian, to turn town gatherings into discus- bisexual and transgendered young sions of tolerance and justice. Such people from harassment and hate discussions happen at mainstream crimes. events such as Victorian Days and the Fourth of July celebration. Wisconsin After young people in Appleton com- Washington plained that the town of 70,000 didn’t Nancy Rohde, a teacher for 20 years, embrace or respect diversity, Harmony invites Guatemalan and Mexican immi- Café opened. Harmony Café offers grants into her home, teaching them drumming circles, open-microphone English, sharing meals, making friends poetry nights and other commu- and helping them adjust to life in nity-building gatherings in its newly a town of about 4,000 people in a renovated space.

27 Resources A compilation of organizations and materials that can assist in the fight against hate.

National Organizations National Coalition for Dialogue and Everyday Democracy Southern Poverty Law Center Deliberation www.everyday-democracy.org 400 Washington Ave. www.thataway.org Hate Hurts: How Children Learn Montgomery, AL 36104 National Conference for and Unlearn Prejudice (334) 956-8200 Community and Justice Anti-Defamation League www.splcenter.org www.nccj.org www.adl.org American-Arab Anti-Discrimination National Council of Churches Double Exposure and Committee www.ncccusa.org Challenges to Equality www.adc.org Poverty and Race Research Action National Council of La Raza American Jewish Committee Council www.nclr.org www.ajc.org www.prrac.org National Gay and Lesbian Anti-Defamation League The Crisis Magazine Task Force www.adl.org NAACP www.thetaskforce.org www.thecrisismagazine.com Asian American Legal Defense National Network for Immigrant and & Education Fund Know Your Rights Refugee Rights www.aaldef.org American-Arab Anti-Discrimination www.nnirr.org Committee Center for Community Change Not In Our Town www.adc.org www.communitychange.org The Working Group Campus Climate for Gay, Lesbian, Center for New Community www.pbs.org/niot Bisexual and Transgendered People: A www.newcomm.org Parents and Friends National Perspective Community Relations Service of Lesbians and Gays National Gay and Lesbian U.S. Department of Justice www.pflag.org Task Force www.usdoj.gov/crs www.thetaskforce.org Simon Wiesenthal Center EdChange www.wiesenthal.com One America in the 21st Century: Forging www.edchange.org a New Future and Pathways to One Stop the Hate Initiative America in the 21st Century: Promising Everyday Democracy Campus Hate Crime Prevention, Practices For Racial Reconciliation www.everyday-democracy.org Association of College Unions The President’s Initiative on Race International Facing History and Ourselves Government Printing Office www.stophate.org www.facinghistory.org Superintendent of Documents, SSOP ANTI-BIAS AND DIVERSITY Gay, Lesbian and Straight Building One Nation: A Study of WORKSHOPS Education Network What Is Being Done Today in Schools, A World of Difference Institute www.glsen.org Neighborhoods and the Workplace Anti-Defamation League Leadership Conference Legal Momentum: Advancing Women’s www.adl.org Education Fund Rights The National Coalition www.civilrights.org (formerly NOW Legal Defense and Building Institute Education Fund) HATE CRIME STATISTICS www.ncbi.org www.legalmomentum.org Federal Bureau of Investigation Publications www.fbi.gov/ucr/hatecm.htm NAACP Organizing Community-wide www.naacp.org Dialogue for Action and Change

28 TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE “Truth and love and kindness and caring won out over hate. It restored my faith in humanity.” — Palatine, Illinois, Mayor Rita Mullins, after teenagers within the community rose up against the Ku Klux Klan

Copyright © 2010 by the Southern Poverty Law Center FOURTH EDITION, FIRST PRINTING The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a nonprofit legal and educational orga- nization based in Montgomery, Alabama. The SPLC’s co-founders are Morris Dees and Joseph Levin and its president is Richard Cohen.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America.

First and second edition text by Jim Carrier, edited by Richard Cohen, research by the staff of the Intelligence Project Fourth edition text updated by Booth Gunter Design by Russell Estes Cover photograph by Eric Swanson/Getty Images

29 The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education and other forms of advocacy, we work toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality.

Fighting Hate Teaching Tolerance Seeking Justice

Southern Poverty Law Center 400 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 www.splcenter.org

30 TEN WAYS TO FIGHT HATE