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Veradale UCC helps community address white supremacy

Since the April 20 walkout at Spokane Valley schools remembering the Columbine school shooting and calling for action to end school shootings, Gen Heywood, pastor of Veradale UCC, became aware of the presence of “white-identity” youth on campuses of University, Central Valley, East Valley and Freeman high schools.

About 150 teens from those schools engaged in a peaceful protest carrying posters and registering voters.

A few students in Alt-Right groups, called Identity and Identity Evropa, wore white supremacy T-shirts and carried other symbols during the walkouts. They were interviewed by the local newspaper.

Concerned, Gen and others in the community formed Families Against Bigotry (FAB), first meeting April 23, to help people know how to address the white supremacy presence in schools and the community.

Families Against Bigotry has organized several speakers in a summer series on “Fascism, Hate and Building Alternatives.”  The events are at Veradale UCC.

One was Tony McAleer, a former organizer for the White Aryan Resistance. Speaking on “Life After Hate,” he said it’s hard to leave such a movement.  He now works to fight hate.

Lindsay Shubiner, program director for the Western States Center’s new initiative to counter white nationalism and hate violence, spoke June 13.  She has been involved in advocacy to defeat anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hate, and in support of community groups to expose organized bigotry and research hate movements. She addressed varieties of hate groups and ways to respond.

FAB is also collaborating with other area groups working against racism and hate, and for human rights, including the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force, Spokane Community Against Racism, the Gonzaga University Institute of Hate Studies and PFLAG.

Shon Meckfessel from the English Department at Highline University in Seattle will speak on “Free Speech When It Isn’t” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 19, at Veradale UCC.

FAB is planning an August speaker.  The next organizing meeting is at 5:30 p.m., June 28, at Veradale UCC.

For information, call 408-593-9556 or email genheywood@att.net.

 

Pacific Northwest United Church News © Summer 2018

 

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