Together, we can end hate

Hate — through words and physical actions — is on the rise both locally and nationally. So many of us watch in horror as white supremacists gather, chanting racist slogans, calling for the renewal of “white America” and threatening that “Jews will not replace us.”

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, which tracks anti-Semitism in Wisconsin, has seen a three-fold increase in hate incidents in the last five years. That trend continues this year, with anti-Semitic graffiti, threats against Jewish institutions and individuals, and an unmasked hatred of all those deemed “other” that is startling.

The federation has taken a strong stance to call out and condemn hateful acts against all communities, but we know that this is not enough. So many in our hyper-segregated and polarized community have asked what they can do to combat hate.

With that in mind, we are re-launching the Hours Against Hate initiative.

Hours Against Hate is a movement to

help end hate in Milwaukee and throughout the greater community. Powerful in its simplicity, Hours Against Hate was founded on the idea that one-to-one interactions between individuals who are different from each other can promote respect and dismantle bigotry. The program mobilizes participants to spend an hour or more interacting with someone of a different race, culture, religion, tradition, class, sexual orientation, gender or physical ability.

At the federation’s Economic Forum last week, we unveiled the new program, with the goal of making it easier than ever to have businesses, schools, individuals and organizations take action to heal the community and prevent the spread of hatred.

Our newest initiative, Lunch Hours Against Hate, encourages schools and workplaces to commit to using 12 lunch hours each year — one hour a month — to foster greater understanding and respect across differences. Hours Against Hate can help facilitate these efforts through connecting your organization with a public speaker, discussion questions or ideas — and logistics for a field trip or office outing.

The federation has taken a strong stance to call out and condemn hateful acts against all communities, but we know that this is not enough. So many in our hyper-segregated and polarized community have asked what they can do to combat hate. With that in mind, we are re-launching the Hours Against Hate initiative.

We each have the power to do something, to know our neighbors and to improve our community. Speaking with likeminded allies is not enough. Calling out hatred is also not enough. We must take action. I invite you to join us. Please visit our new website to learn more: www.HoursAgainstHate.com.