VOICE OF THE MAJORITY

Every Hour someone commits a hate crime.

Every Day eight blacks, three whites, three gays, three Jews and one Latino become hate crime victims.

Every Week a cross is burned.

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, Wyoming; and the murder of 168 citizens in Oklahoma City are not "isolated incidents." They are eruptions of a nation’s intolerance. Bias is a human condition, and American history is rife with prejudice against groups and individuals because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or other differences. The 20th Century saw major progress in outlawing discrimination, and most Americans today support integrated schools and neighborhoods. But stereotypes and unequal treatment persist, an atmosphere often exploited by hate groups. When bias motivates an unlawful act, it is considered a hate crime. Race and religion inspire most hate crimes, but hate today wears many faces. Forty percent of bias crimes target blacks and 13 percent are anti-white, but the greatest growth in hate crimes in recent years is against Asians and homosexuals, according to FBI statistics. Once considered a Southern phenomenon, today seven out of eight hate crimes take place in the North and West. In the late 1990s there were more public Ku Klux Klan rallies, complete with white sheets, in Pennsylvania than in Alabama. States with large immigrant populations, such as California, find the "hate line" between people of color. Spread on the Internet and accessible by personal computers, hate clearly knows no geographic bounds. The Good News Is … All over the country people are fighting hate. Standing up to hate mongers. Promoting tolerance and inclusion. More often than not, when hate flares up, good erupts, too. This guide sets out 10 principles for fighting hate along with a collection of inspiring stories of people who acted, often alone at first, to push hate out of their communities. Their efforts usually made smaller headlines than the acts of the haters, but they made a difference. Even in the wake of some of the most horrific hate crimes of the last century, seeds of promise sprouted. Whether you need a crash course to deal with an upcoming Ku Klux Klan rally, a primer on the media or a long-range plan to promote tolerance in your community, you will find practical advice, good examples and additional sources in this guide. The steps outlined here have been tested in scores of communities across the U.S. by a wide range of human rights, religious and civic organizations. Our experience shows that one person, acting from conscience and love, can neutralize bigotry. A group of people can create a moral barrier to hate from the site http://www.splcenter.com I encourage everyone to check out the site and read the article on the ten things to stop hate.

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Thursday, February 24, 2005