We CAN Stop Hate. TOGETHER!
Critical Race Theory: How do we continue to talk about race and racism in an era of pushback?

Many of you have written to us about the debates going on this summer in statehouses and school board meetings across the country surrounding misinformation about critical race theory and teaching about systemic racism in schools. We have put together a post at the NIOT blog regarding the controversy with the best articles we've seen on the topic.

In September, we plan to hold a virtual conversation focused on these questions. How do we continue to discuss and address issues of racism in an era of pushback? How do we talk about race in a way that doesn’t exclude people? What do we lose when we can’t have these conversations?

We'd love to hear from you about whether debate over teaching racism is something you are encountering in your community and your response. Please send us an email at info [at] niot [dot] org and tell us what you are experiencing. We'd also love to hear from you with questions or concerns you have that we might address in our online webinar.

As hate incidents targeting Asians rose by over 200% in the San Francisco East Bay community of San Leandro, local activists and leaders came together to show solidarity with the Asian community on May 16, 2021. California's new attorney general Rob Bonta was in attendance, along with a number of other local leaders and community organizations from around the Bay Area. All were there to denounce the violence and stand together united against hate.

"Everybody can do something and nobody should do nothing," said Bonta. "This is a moment when everybody should hear the call to action — and act. Step in in any way that you can."

Thanks to the Community Impact Lab, City of San Leandro, the Public Library and the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club for their support of this event.

The Not In Our Town podcast features powerful voices from people across the country who are taking a stand against hate and working to create safe and inclusive communities for all.

Patrice O’Neill, filmmaker and founder of Not In Our Town, talks to Susan Bro, a mother and teacher who became a passionate social activist after her 32-year-old daughter Heather Heyer was killed by a white supremacist in the Charlottesville protest on Aug. 12, 2017. Listen now
NIOT's Jeremy Jue talks with members of the Jabara family about the events leading up to the murder of Khalid Jabara in Tulsa, Okla., on August 12, 2016, and with experts about how their case informed the creation of the Jabara-Heyer No Hate Act that was signed into law by President Biden earlier this year. The podcast features Khalid's mother, Haifa, and his two siblings, Rami and Victoria; Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute; and NIOT Founder Patrice O'Neill. Listen now
Charlottesville Removes Robert E. Lee Statue That Sparked a Deadly Rally

The city of Charlottesville, Va., removed a statue of Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson on Saturday, July 10, toppling symbols that were at the center of the deadly Unite the Right rally in 2017.

The statues will remain on city property until the city council decides what to do with them. Ten groups have expressed interest in the statues, according to a statement from the city.

"Taking down this statue is one small step closer to the goal of helping Charlottesville, Va., and America, grapple with the sin of being willing to destroy Black people for economic gain," Charlottesville Mayor Nikuyah Walker said as the crane neared the Lee monument, the Associated Press reported. Read more

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth, the Town Board and North Hempstead's Asian American Advisory Committee have announced that the town will be distributing for residents in North Hempstead. The signs will be available at facilities across the town.

“With input from our residents, we put a new spin on North Hempstead's 'Not In Our Town' initiative by creating signs that feature a message of unity in different languages," said Supervisor Judi Bosworth.

"We believe that these lawn signs are a small way to bring everyone together and show that we can join to stop hate together. North Hempstead is an extremely diverse and welcoming community, and we are proud to celebrate all that makes us unique and special.”

Learn more about the lawn signs and download a PDF version for your own lawn at the NIOT Blog.
Watch the NIOT 25th Anniversary Kick-Off Concert with ARKAI

Last month we kicked off our celebration of 25 years of stopping hate and building safe and inclusive communities across the country with the genre-bending sounds of violin and cello duo ARKAI. Catch this amazing and uplifting concert here.

We hope you have a chance to listen to this beautiful concert, a beautiful soundtrack to all the work NIOT and you do!

Watch as we explore 25 years of community action and stories of hope and change. Please consider making a donation to continue the fight. And please share the link via social media.

Thank you for taking a stand against hate.
We love to share stories and profiles from around the country, let us know about all your great work so we can highlight it!

Please stay in touch via info@niot.org or facebook.com/notinourtown and let us know your news and the actions that are keeping you connected and strong.

Questions, concerns, or ideas? We'd love to hear from you!