NIOT JUNE E-NEWS
In this issue: Facing the crisis of hate and violence, Premiere of Repairing the World, Not In Our School workshops and actions, Origins and Urgency of Pride Month, the Loss of Bill Sims, Updates from NIOT communities
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Students at a Buffalo Public school were joined by those from a suburban district to honor the victims of the shootings, and show solidarity toward racial harmony. |
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To families and friends who have lost someone to hate and gun violence, please know, we stand with you. The way we stand is with our actions.
We mourn the incredible loss faced by 10 families in Buffalo, the families of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, the families in Laguna Woods, and the communities that surround them. The escalation of hate and violence may seem overwhelming, but we can’t let it numb or immobilize us.
In this time of sadness, anger and despair, we are writing to our communities and network with news about what we can do together to stop hate and violence.
LEARN WHAT YOU CAN DO IN YOUR TOWN.
In the face of this crisis, Not In Our Town offers successful strategies from communities across the country. Our actions at the local level — in our communities — are more urgent than ever.
Here is a list of actions you can take to honor the victims, support members of your own communities who may be worried about racist attacks, and work to build safer, more inclusive communities for all.
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Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life |
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After over three years in production, the NIOT Team premiered our new feature documentary about the Pittsburgh community's stand against hate after the attack at the synagogue that killed 11 people in 2018.
The film addresses many of the urgent issues we are now facing including the racist, antisemitic “replacement theory,” online hate speech, gun laws, and ways to build united action to stop hate, antisemitism and racism.
Not In Our Town first screened Repairing the World: Stories From the Tree of Life with the 10.27 Healing Partnership at the JCC in Pittsburgh for survivors and family members of the victims and over 120 “helpers.” Their positive response and affirmation of the story filled our hearts.
One week later, the film premiered at an almost sold-out 400-seat theater as the “centerpiece film” in Pittsburgh’s JFilm Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. Per Kathryn Spitz Cohan, the film festival’s executive director, “It is the highest-scoring film we’ve shown since we’ve been collecting these ratings.” What an incredible honor!
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Not In Our Schools
How do we support our young people in the face of horrific violence? In NIOT communities like Bloomington-Normal, IL, young people in the Not In Our School club are leading the way by hosting fundraisers for the families in Uvalde, TX, and organizing marches against gun violence. They are being supported by NIOT volunteer advisors and the NIOT community group. Learn more about their inspiring actions.
New NIOS Teacher Workshops
Not In Our Town hosted three workshops for teachers this Spring. The stories we heard from teachers about the challenges they are facing were both disturbing and inspiring. How can teachers support students in standing up to hate and bias in school and in daily life?
We would like to invite educators in NIOT communities to join a monthly series of professional development workshops to address this question and share strategies for building a culture of inclusion and belonging in the classroom. Professional development certificates will be offered upon completion of quarterly sessions.
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Graham Family Foundation Launches ‘Not In Our Schools’ Page
The GFF has been partnering with NIOS for the past decade to work in California schools and to extend NIOS resources and direct support to low-income schools in need. Recently, the GFF website has launched this great summary of the projects we’ve been working on together. We thank GFF for their ongoing support!
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June is PRIDE Month
In June of each year Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month is celebrated to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as ‘Gay Pride Day,’ but the actual day was flexible (from the Library of Congress).
This week, President Joe Biden declared June LGBTQ Pride Month while calling attention to "unconscionable attacks" on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex community, that have left "LGBTQI+ families in fear and pain."
"All of this compounded has been especially difficult on LGBTQI+ youth, 45 percent of whom seriously considered attempting suicide in the last year — a devastating reality that our Nation must work urgently to address," he said, citing research conducted by The Trevor Project, an LGBTQIA+ youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization.
According to the Human Rights Campaign as of May, more than 320 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced around the country.
LGBTQ young people are four times more likely to attempt suicide, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death among all young people in the U.S. The Trevor Project is working to change that by offering crisis services, peer support, research and advocacy guidance.
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Remembering Bill Sims Sr.
From NIOT - El Sobrante News: It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of William Sims, Sr. of El Sobrante, CA. He leaves behind his loving wife Renee and daughter Stacey. Bill’s untimely death, his family writes, was “due to overwhelming, physical, emotional and financial stress which was brought on by the death of his only son... The family is still going through the court proceedings.”
Bill’s son, Will Sims Jr., was brutally murdered by three men in November 2016. Neighbors organized immediately, held a vigil and events in support of the family, and formed Not In Our Town - El Sobrante.
Will and the entire Sims family have been active in the NIOT movement and have spoken out publicly about what happened to their son in support of United Against Hate Week, which is held annually in November. This year's United Against Hate Week will be held Nov. 13-19, 2022.
On behalf of NIOT communities across the country, we offer our condolences and love to the Sims family. If you are interested in learning more about Bill, read our blog interview with him from last Fall. And if you are inclined, visit the family’s GoFundMe page.
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Local Laws Requiring Law Enforcement to Track + Report Hate Crimes
From NIOT - Westchester, NY News: Following an increase in incidents meant to intimidate, harass, or otherwise show a bias toward a certain group, Westchester County Executive George Latimer signed legislation last week requiring local police departments to report all perceived incidents in an attempt to track, and combat, these heinous acts.
Latimer said: “Here in Westchester, we are proud of our differences – for it’s our diversity which gives us our strength. This legislation comes at a time when incidents meant to divide us seem to be happening at an alarming rate. To better understand what we can do to deter them, we must have accurate data to understand where and when they are happening. I thank our County Police, the various municipal police departments in Westchester, the Board of Legislators and our Human Rights Commission for their efforts on this front.”
Does your local town or city government require hate crime reporting from law enforcement? There are organizations all over the country looking to improve your hate crime laws and more broadly protect its citizens.
Learn more:
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We love to share stories and profiles from around the country, let us know about all your great work so we can highlight it!
Questions, concerns, or ideas? We'd love to hear from you!
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