Empathy, compassion, and inclusion are hallmarks of our Know the Signs programs and drive our commitment to speak up against hate and injustice. We believe everyone has the right to be safe wherever they are: at school, at home, and in their communities.
Rising Hate Crimes and Violence
Racially-motivated violence and expressions of hate and bigotry continue to terrorize communities of color and other marganizaled groups, causing collective trauma and reinforce systems of oppression. This has long been the reality for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals in the United States.
According to the FBI, our nation has seen more hate crimes in recent years than we have in a decade. Further, the Washington Post’s review of hate crimes since the 2018 Parkland shooting showed that students of color are more likely to experience campus gun violence (more than twice as much for Hispanic students and over three times as much for Black students). Additionally, LGBTQ+ people are more than twice as likely to be a victim of gun violence than their cisgender and straight peers. Learn the warning signs of violence.
You can take action and spread awareness in your community to reverse this deadly trend. Denounce this epidemic of discrimination and violence and take meaningful steps to prevent further violence. Together, we can fight fear and hatred with our commitment to look out for one another and speak up to get help when we see potential violence and injustice in any form. Just like we teach our children to do.
Here are some ways you can fight hate.
Educate Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Learn about the issues and get resources for yourself, your family, and friends about the issues of racial inequality, intolerance, and bias. You can start with these:
- Center for Anti-Racist Education
- Holocaust Remembrance Day Lesson Plans and Activities
- NPR: Why all parents should talk to their children about race and social identity
- NYT: These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids
- Raceconcious.org: Raising race conscious children
- Race Forward
- Readbrightly.com: How to talk to kids about race and books that can help
- Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States
- Stop AAPI Hate National Report
Support Organizations Working Against Hate, Racism, and Brutality
Seek out and support organizations whose primary mission is to end systematic injustice, police violence, and racial inequities. These include:
- Advancement Project
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice
- Black Lives Matter
- Born This Way
- Cities United
- Community Justice Action Fund
- Hate Is A Virus
- Human Rights Campaign
- Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU)
- Stop AAPI Hate
- Legal Defense Fund
- Simon Wiesenthal Center
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- Unidos US
Vote and Voice Your Values
Systemic change can only happen when we, as voters, elect representatives who will translate our demands for justice into laws and practices. And when we collectively use our voice to prevent hate crimes in our communities. It also means making sure every eligible voter has the ability and access to cast their vote. Learn how to get started:
- Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)
- Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC)
- League of Women Voters
- Vote.org
Spread the Word
While solving systemic injustice and dismantling hate is difficult, it is not impossible. Please take a moment to share these resources with your social networks and join us in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The only way we can get there is by working together. Contact us with suggestions for other groups and resources to add.
