Introduction
This guide documents the surge in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate incidents, explains the link between rhetoric and violence, and provides suggestions and resources to take action.
The extreme violence suffered by Israeli and Palestinian civilians since October 7 2023 has been accompanied by an alarming escalation of dangerous speech and hate violence in the U.S. directed against Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim people, and those perceived as belonging to these groups.
Antisemitism, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry are equally unacceptable. In the face of anguish, fear, and conflict, there is a first step we all can take. However we may differ, we should all be able to agree – violence, and the dehumanizing and bigoted rhetoric that can lead to violence, erodes movements for justice, equity, and inclusive democracy, and must be denounced.
This is a time of rising fear and grave threat for members of many targeted communities, as white nationalists and other anti-democracy actors exploit the crisis to spread their message, recruit supporters, and drive a wedge between communities that have many common interests.
We can mourn the loss of life, reject all hatred and bigotry, engage in principled organizing, and do so without leaving any openings for white nationalists to exploit.
As organizations with the shared goal of strengthening inclusive democracy, Western States Center (WSC) and our partners at Princeton’s Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI) are proud to release a new tool, “Speaking Out Against Bigoted, Dehumanizing Rhetoric: What We Can Do.”
Consider your mission – to serve the entire community, for example, or create an inclusive learning environment, foster creativity, ensure community safety. How does that mission connect to the urgent need to stem the rise in bigotry that marks this current moment? How can you use your role, platform, relationships, programming, expertise, physical or digital spaces, or other resources to counter the normalization of dehumanizing speech and political violence? – pg 8
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Credits
- Bridging Divides Initiative
The Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI) is a non-partisan research initiative that tracks and mitigates political violence in the United States. - Western States Center
Western States Center envisions inclusive democratic movements and societies rooted in justice and equity.
Explore Further
- A Community Guide for Opposing Hate
The manual provides step by step actions for those who want to do something about hate, not only for the immediate aftermath of a hateful act, but for years to come to improve their community. - Talking about Race: Racial Equity Resources
Resources to talk about race from the Living Room Conversations. This includes 5 Conversation Guides, a glossary, videos and readings. - Pathways to Repair: Guides to Navigate Healing, Trust building and Human Messiness
These resources from the Pathways to Repair project discuss the challenges of navigating relationships and resolving conflicts within communities, highlighting the need for pathways to repair and reduce harm. - Overcome Toxic Polarisation: A Political Courage Challenge
This tool developed by Starts With Us aims to fight toxic division and extremism and build tolerance and compassionate relationships. - Democracy Resource Hub Collection in the Commons Library
The purpose of this hub is to provide a wide range of tools and resources for anti-authoritarian and pro-democracy organizing in an easily accessible manner for trainers/facilitators, researchers, and practitioners. This includes tools and resources from the fields of social justice, nonviolence action, organizing, leadership, bridge-building, peacebuilding, and democracy strengthening.