Bard Center for the Study of Hate Releases New Community Guide for Opposing Hate Cowritten by Western States Center and Montana Human Rights Network

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.—The Bard Center for the Study of Hate (BCSH) has published a community guide for opposing hate. This new guide is a nuts-and-bolts blueprint for how community groups can organize against hate. Jointly written by BCSH, Western States Center, and Montana Human Rights Network, it details best practices for how to start a local group opposing hate and how to improve the work of organizations already engaged in this effort. A webinar discussion about the guide, hosted by BCSH, will be held on Tuesday, May 17 at 3 pm ET.

“Hate may be manifested by different means (rallies, posters, social media postings, crimes, etc.) and may have a variety of targets (people of different ethnicity or religion, gender or sexual identity, even different politics),” the guide notes. “But we make a huge mistake when we ignore hateful acts against anyone . . . [H]ate threatens democratic norms and institutions . . . [H]ate imbedded as a noble idea can inspire individuals to acts of violence.”

“It’s been an honor to create this toolkit along with colleagues from the Western States Center and the Montana Human Rights Network,” said Kenneth S. Stern, the director of BCSH. “We have many decades of experience organizing efforts to oppose hate and hate groups, and we were eager to share the best practices and pitfalls that will help others improve our communities and our democracy.”

Too often when a hate incident happens, people want to do something but don’t know what to do, and the desire to make a difference fades until the cycle repeats, notes Stern. This guide has detailed instructions on how to set up groups to oppose hate that can succeed and be sustained—from how and where a first meeting should be convened, to what type of initial event should be planned, how to structure the organization, and even what day of the week is best to hold board meetings.

The 103-page guide also has detailed sections on messaging, traditional and social media strategies, and working with politicians, schools, and academics. Hate crimes, security, and research, among other topics are also covered. Importantly, it includes a section on the importance of protecting free speech rights while exposing hate speech and making the hater’s exercise in free speech backfire.

The guide also stresses thinking through various scenarios that a community might face, such as threats from hateful leaflets, speakers, politicians, and others vilifying any group in the community. Thirteen different scenarios are provided for groups to contemplate and prepare for within their communities.

To read The Community Guide for Opposing Hate, click here.

A webinar discussing the guide, hosted by BCSH, will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 3pm ET. Registration link here. About Bard Center for the Study of Hate
The Bard Center for the Study of Hate (BCSH) works to increase the serious study of human hatred, and ways to combat it. The Center is a program of Bard’s Human Rights Project. For more information, visit bcsh.bard.edu.

About Western States Center
Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, Western States Center works nationwide to strengthen inclusive democracy through building movements, developing leaders, shifting culture, and defending democracy. For more information, visit westernstatescenter.org

About Montana Human Rights Network
The mission of the Montana Human Rights Network is to organize Montana residents to realize their power to create pluralism, justice, and equality in their communities. We challenge bigotry and discrimination, support marginalized people, and advocate for legislation that honors everyone’s basic rights. For more information, visit mhrn.org

About Bard College
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year, residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place estate, Bard’s campus consists of nearly 1,000 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in more than 40 academic programs; graduate degrees in 13 programs; eight early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 161-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at our main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.

This event was last updated on 05-11-2022

Back to Top