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Role of a Unity Group in a Community

Role of a Unity Group in a Community. Tri-State Unity Coalition P.O. Box 752 Milford, PA 18337 www.tristateunity.org. Somewhere in America…. Every Hour Someone commits a hate crime Every Day 8 blacks, 3 whites, 3 gays, 3 Jews and 1 Latino become hate crime victims

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Role of a Unity Group in a Community

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  1. Role of a Unity Group in a Community Tri-State Unity Coalition P.O. Box 752 Milford, PA 18337 www.tristateunity.org

  2. Somewhere in America… • Every HourSomeone commits a hate crime • Every Day8 blacks, 3 whites, 3 gays, 3 Jews and 1 Latino become hate crime victims • Every WeekA cross is burned “Tens Ways to Fight Hate” by the Southern Poverty Law Center

  3. There are Only Two Choices Communities can: • Wait to get organized in response to an incident or threat • Get organized before there’s an incident! Its not a matter of “IF” but “WHEN”

  4. Hate Crime Unlawful Discrimination Organized Hate Groups Public Tensions Everyday Interactions

  5. Ways to Fight Hate • Unite • Support the survivors • Speak up • Create an alterative • Teach tolerance Apathy will be interpreted as acceptance by the public, the offenders and the victims “Tens Ways to Fight Hate” by the Southern Poverty Law Center

  6. Pike County, PA Demographics Number Percent Increase Population – 1990 27,966 Population – 2000 46,302 66% White 43,109 93.1% 57% Black 1,513 3.3% 491% Hispanic* 2,315 5.0% 255% Asian 288 0.6% American Indian 111 0.2% Other 602 1.5% 452% Disabled 8,419 18.2% Population – 2002 50,095 8% http://quickfacts.census.gov * Includes people of more than one race.

  7. Fastest growing county in Pennsylvania and 80th in the nation

  8. Sussex County, NJ Demographics Number Percent Increase Population – 1990 130,943 Population – 2000 144,166 10% White 138,015 95.7% 8% Black 1,502 1.0% 21% Hispanic* 4,822 3.3% 66% Asian 1,766 1.2% 45% American Indian 161 0.1% -18% Other 1,072 0.7% 137% Disabled 17,976 12.5% Population – 2002 148,680 3% http://quickfacts.census.gov * Includes people of more than one race.

  9. “Hate Can’t Happen in My Town”

  10. “It’s Just Kids” • Anti-Semitic graffiti on the Old Milford Inn • “All Jews are Traitors” (8/30/00) • “In Memory of 650,000 Killed by Stalin Jew” (9/6/00)

  11. Community Response • Candle light vigil at the site • Pike County Commissioners issued a resolution • Condemn the acts of intolerance and express the desire that Pike County be a place of religious, ethnic and personal tolerance (No. 00-31) • Community meeting • Tri-State Unity Coalition was born

  12. Tri-State Unity Coalition • Purpose • Celebrate diversity • Promote human rights • Create a moral barrier to hate • Enhance community harmony • Non-political • Non-profit (501c3) • Service Area • Pike (PA) • Sussex (NJ) • Orange (NY)

  13. TSUC Programs • Education • Teach about various cultures, lifestyles and religious beliefs through workshops, seminars, presentations, etc. • Outreach • Reach out to the public at large and collaborate with other community groups to promote and enhance intra-group awareness. • Response • Support survivors of prejudice, discrimination and/or hate crimes by providing for their physical and emotional needs.

  14. TSUC Functions • “Stop the Hate Video” by PA HRC • Sent Delaware Valley High School students to the Visa for Life Workshop at Keystone College in Scranton, PA • Participated in the Unity Day Celebration at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA • Participated in Music is the Best Medicine to support the Tri-State Disabilities Awareness Council • Honored Milton Bailey in a Memorial Day Parade • Repaired damage to the Jewish Camp from arson and hate graffiti • Co-sponsored a Native American Workshop for Children

  15. History of Hate in the Delaware Highlands

  16. Tom Quick, Jr. (1734-1796) The Indian Slayer or Avenger of the Delaware • “Maddened by the death of his Father at the hands of the savages, Tom Quick never abated his hostility to them until the day of his death, a period of over forty years.” • Monument (1889) • First white born child in the area • Fabled to have killed 99 Indians - evidence of only a few • Events: • Destroyed in 1997 • Repaired in 1999 but not erected due to NAHTA Protest • TSUC Meeting in May 2003 • PCHS and Tom Quick Inn Meeting in June 2003 • Milford Borough Council Meeting in July 2003

  17. Proposed Plates • This is a grave site and should be respected as such. • This is a monument and its inscriptions reflect a dialogue and mindset of the era in which is was first erected circa 1889, which was 94 years after the death of Tom Quick. • Many stories have been written about Tom Quick but there is not enough documented evidence to separate truth from fiction. However, research into his life continues to be encouraged by the Pike County Historical Society. • This gravesite is under the care of the Milford Borough Council with the approbation of the members of the Cree Nation, long recognized as peacemakers.

  18. “Tom Quick” by Noel Paul Stookeyon “Something New and Fresh” (1978, 2001) In the town of Milford, PennsylvaniaThere stands a sorry sign ... "Tom Quick" it says, "the Indian slayer of legendary fame lived in this region” Where he played a hero's game He was angered by the slaying of his father...For forty years, the remainder of his life Tom Quick killed and killed avenging wrong for right... The tally of Tom Quick's legend is written: 99.. In the town of Milford, PennsylvaniaThere stands a sorry signTo help passing strangersUnderstand the fraying of their minds

  19. Katz vs. Westfall Township (Pike, PA) • Katz, et al. vs. Zoning Hearing Board of Westfall Township (1994) • Developer of Rosetown Estates outside of Milford in the mid-1980s • Several allegations including civil rights violations • Katz won a $10.1 million verdictagainst the township and several officials (1998) • Katz was also a victim under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute • He faced hostilities motivated by the fact he was an outsider and Jewish • Suit cited a comment made in 1988 by a resident who said to Katz "you Jew bastard ... you and your family come to this area and think you own everything ...'‘ • Jury ordered a $210,000 payment from three individuals for the RICO charges

  20. Local Incidents

  21. Freedom of Speech or Intimidation? Welcome to Milford… Now Go Home! Letters to the Editor “Close the Doors” “This is Our Country” “American Heritage” “Ostriches About Immigration”

  22. “Close the Doors” • “goodness of a multi-cultural nation and ethnic diversity” is “largely a crock of bull”. • “.. it is the amalgamation of our cultural and ethnic differences into a uniquely American culturethat enabled us to be what we are today” • “South America, Asia and the Middle East … Let me suggest that the failure of their cultures, religious practices and types of governments have led them to look for the open door to the USA. Their prodigious procreation rates have far outstripped any reasonable chance for economic improvement in the homelands.” • “ …close to 300 million people and the drain on our natural resources should be a major concern to all of us … the Spanish-speaking population increased from 15 million to 30 million in a mere 10 years. As an environmentalist, those statistics are frightening. Simply put, more people, inevitably, will lead to more destruction of our natural environment.” Letter by Karl H. Flail (Westfall). Pike County Dispatch. February 2003.

  23. “This is Our Country” • This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity • As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. • If you wish to become part of our society – learn our language • “In God We Trust” is our national motto. This is not some off-the-wall, Christian, Right Wing, political slogan – its our national motto. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your home. • Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion … But once you are done complaining, whining and griping … I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great American freedom: THE RIGHT TO LEAVE! Letter by Scott Frazer. Pike County Dispatch. March 2003.

  24. Tips for Responses • Don’t condemn or try to win-over the offender • Don’t argue point for point • Write a defense appealing to the victim(s) and general public • Freedom of speech issue is two-sided • Don’t take it personally

  25. Final Thought • Silence is the welcome mat for hate and intolerance to be accepted in the community

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