Groups Release New Resources to Fight Hate
Feature Story by civilrights.org staff - 6/28/2004
Hate crimes can be stopped before they happen, say two anti-hate groups offering new resources to combat hate-motivated activities.The Anti Defamation League's newly-released "Hate Comes Home" CD-ROM helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to stop hate before it starts.
The premise of the interactive CD-ROM is two young men arriving together for a school homecoming dance. Two other students perceive the young men to be a gay couple and plot to attack them. Players then take on the role of one of four characters who have the ability to either ignore the situation, or intervene and prevent the attack from happening.
Players' decisions to prevent the attack depend on their own life experiences, as well as a series of choices made the previous week. ADL hopes that young people will make the right decisions when faced with similar situations in their own lives.
"One of the most important lessons that we at ADL can offer to young people is to increase their understanding of the ways in which hateful ideas and words can escalate to hateful acts," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director.
"Hate Comes Home" currently is available in all California high schools. It also is available on ADL's website.
Also in an effort to combat hate, the "Ten Ways to Fight Hate Community Grants Program" from Southern Poverty Law Center will offer workshops and grants of up to $2,000 to help communities respond to local hate crimes or hate-group activity. The program is available to organizers in all parts of the country.
"It is vital that communities send a message that hate groups and hate activity are not welcome," said Tafeni English, outreach coordinator for SPLC. "The workshops and grants available through this new program will help communities find appropriate ways to express their opposition to racism and bigotry."
Applications for the grants will be accepted through September 30. More information and grant applications are available on SPLC's website.
