Let’s Work Towards Concrete Solutions
From the Desk of Lori Shepherd, Executive Director
This past week, I was honored to attend the fifth annual Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh. This summit was originally launched in response to the 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue that left eleven dead, six wounded, and a community shaken. Organizers were determined to respond to the tragedy by creating a comprehensive, global initiative to combat hate-fueled violence in their town and across the globe.
This year’s summit proved that even in the face of rising political and identity-based violence, hope and solutions can still emerge. The summit brought together more than 1,300 activists, educators, survivors, and policy experts - a diverse global network dedicated to combatting hate-fueled violence.
The summit took place against a national and international backdrop of increasing political and identity-based violence. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, in his keynote address, called for national unity and a renewed focus on peaceful dialogue, stating that political violence "tears at the fabric of American society."
Republican Governor Tom Corbett, who introduced Democratic Gov. Shapiro, echoed the sentiment of many in the room with his simple plea: "Enough. When is this going to stop? Progress is possible if we come together. “
Eradicate Hate Global Summit organizers worked to move beyond simple conversations and toward concrete solutions. Breakout sessions and working groups covered topics such as:
Countering AI-driven threats: One talk delved into the sinister side of "brain rot," a term for how disinformation spreads online, and how to counter it with AI tools.
Building partnerships: There were multiple sessions focused on defining successful collaborations and increasing reach and impact across different sectors.
Lived experiences: A panel featured individuals who had left violent extremist groups, offering valuable insight into prevention strategies.
For me, one of the most inspiring aspects of the summit was the session featuring high school students from more than 30 schools across the country, sharing their strategies for countering hate. One panel, moderated by educator Courtney Cano, highlighted the crucial role young people play in fostering inclusive communities and showcased how Texas students are empowering other young people by educating them about social media trends and media literacy. EHGS worked to underscore the importance of creating connections and to "ask students what they need" in place of just telling the youth participants what adults think they should need and want.
So much of the three-day summit echoed the mission of Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center. Every day, we empower local educators with the tools they need, create innovative opportunities for Tucson students, and serve as an integral part of local community collaborations. Each of these is a key piece in the fight to end antisemitism and identity-based hate in all its forms.
So much of the three-day summit echoed the mission of Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center. In addition to empowering local educators with the tools they need and creating innovative educational opportunities for Tucson students, we’re active in several local and statewide collaborations that are working to build safer, more inclusive communities. (You can read about one such powerful initiative in Lynn Davis’ blog, below.) We view each of these tactics as a crucial piece of the fight to end antisemitism and identity-based hate in all their forms.