1	Tri-State Unity Coalition (TSUC) Non-political, non-profit (501c3) and completely volunteer organization The only organization exclusively focused on human relations in Pike (PA) but also serve Sussex (NJ) and Orange (NY) Meetings - Second Wednesday of the Month at the Dingman’s Public Library
2	TSUC Programs Education Teach about various cultures, lifestyles and religious beliefs through workshops, seminars, presentations, etc. Outreach Reach out to the public at large and collaborate with other community groups to promote and enhance intra-group awareness. Response Support survivors of prejudice, discrimination and/or hate crimes by providing for their physical and emotional needs.
3	Proverbs From Around the World “Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.” Israel “Equality is not easy, but superiority is painful.” Senegal “If you have one finger pointing at somebody, you have three pointing towards yourself.” Nigeria “A frog in the well does not know the ocean.” Japan
4	Proverbs (cont.) “The bridge is repaired only after someone falls in the water.” Somalia “Those who seek revenge must remember to dig two graves.” China “When the right hand washes the left hand and the left hand washes the right hand, both hands become clean.” Nigeria “A wise person changes their mind.” Japan
5	Somewhere in America… Every Hour Someone commits a hate crime Every Day 8 blacks, 3 whites, 3 gays, 3 Jews and 1 Latino become hate crime victims Every Week A cross is burned
6	Martin Luther King, Jr. Lessons: Treat others with respect Avoid using stereotypes Even seemingly positive ones, such as generalizing a whole ethnic group as exceptionally good at math or musically talented Make it clear that prejudice is wrong Don't allow bigoted comments by others, even friends or family members, to go unchallenged
7	Speaking Up for Each Other
8	Hate Pyramid
9	We are All the Same Inside
10	We are All the Same Inside Tolerance Willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs or practices of others Breakdown Stereotypes A way of grouping people together by the same qualities or characteristics for everyone in the group - positive or negative; conscious or unconscious And each person is unique
11	How the Beetle Got Her Colors “You ugly little thing!” ..day after day he listened.. “I didn’t know” “Don’t judge others by their appearance.”
12	What is a Hate Crime? A criminal offense committed against persons, property or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by an offender’s bias against a specific characteristic of an individual or a group such as race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.
13	Report Bias-Related Incidents Any incident in which an action taken by a person or group is perceived to be malicious or discriminatory toward another person or group based on bias or prejudice relating to such characteristics as race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity OR any situation in which intergroup tensions exist based on such group characteristics. Many Bias-Related Incidents are not violations of any law, yet they can create dangerous levels of tension that can escalate into violence or civil unrest. If not addressed, such expressions create a climate in which people do not feel safe, valued or respected and in which more severe forms of tension can develop.
14	Ways to Fight Hate Unite Support the survivors Speak up Create an alterative Teach tolerance
15	Pike County, PA Demographics Number Percent Increase Population – 1990 27,966 Population – 2000 46,302 66% White 43,109 93.1% 57% Black 1,513 3.3% 491% Hispanic* 2,315 5.0% 255% Asian 288 0.6% American Indian 111 0.2% Other 602 1.5% 452% Disabled 8,419 18.2% Population – 2002 50,095 8%
16	Demographics (cont.)
17	“Hate Can’t Happen in My Town”
18	“It’s Just Kids” Anti-Semitic graffiti on the Old Milford Inn “All Jews are Traitors” (8/30/00) “In Memory of 650,000 Killed by Stalin Jew” (9/6/00)
19	Community Response Anti-Semitic incident in Aug/Sep 2000 Candle light vigil at the site Pike County Commissioners issued a resolution Condemn the acts of intolerance and express the desire that Pike County be a place of religious, ethnic and personal tolerance (No. 00-31) Community meeting Tri-State Unity Coalition was formed
20	Recent Incidents in Pike County
21	History of Hate Continues Today
22	Katz vs. Westfall Township (Pike, PA) Katz, et al. vs. Zoning Hearing Board of Westfall Township (1994) Developer of Rosetown Estates outside of Milford in the mid-1980s Several allegations including civil rights violations Katz won a $10.1 million verdict against the township and several officials (1998) Katz was also a victim under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute He faced hostilities motivated by the fact he was an outsider and Jewish Suit cited a comment made in 1988 by a resident who said to Katz "you Jew bastard ... you and your family come to this area and think you own everything ...'‘ Jury ordered a $210,000 payment from three individuals for the RICO charges
23	“Close the Doors” “goodness of a multi-cultural nation and ethnic diversity” is “largely a crock of bull”. “.. it is the amalgamation of our cultural and ethnic differences into a uniquely American culture that enabled us to be what we are today” “South America, Asia and the Middle East … Let me suggest that the failure of their cultures, religious practices and types of governments have led them to look for the open door to the USA. Their prodigious procreation rates have far outstripped any reasonable chance for economic improvement in the homelands.” “ …close to 300 million people and the drain on our natural resources should be a major concern to all of us … the Spanish-speaking population increased from 15 million to 30 million in a mere 10 years. As an environmentalist, those statistics are frightening. Simply put, more people, inevitably, will lead to more destruction of our natural environment.”
24	“This is Our Country” This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. If you wish to become part of our society – learn our language “In God We Trust” is our national motto. This is not some off-the-wall, Christian, Right Wing, political slogan – its our national motto. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your home. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion … But once you are done complaining, whining and griping … I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great American freedom: THE RIGHT TO LEAVE!
25	Tips for Speaking Out Don’t condemn or try to win-over the offender Don’t argue point for point Speak and act to help the victim(s) and community heal Freedom of speech issue is two-sided Don’t take it personally
26	Final Thought Silence is the welcome mat for hate to be accepted in the community