Katie McLaughlin
Ms. Donlin
PSJ Block 4
17 May 2018
Artful Protest: Peace and Rejection of Hate Violence
Awareness
A speech by James Croft -“We Should All Be Protesters” – followed by group discussion
Hosted by Ethical Culture Society Silicon Valley, Neutra House on Feb 18, 2018
Croft pushed for Humanist Movement: promotion of non-violence and non-discrimination
Speaker was well-educated, informed: education from Cambridge, Harvard; Humanist Community Leader; outreach director Ethical Society of St. Louis
Speech Content
Started illustration w/ brief description of past acts of violence aimed at specific groups, but reacted to with peaceful protest
Matthew Shepard: left to die after being tied up to chain fence and beaten because he was gay. Protests and counter-protests → friends dressed up as angels who used wings to protect family at funeral from hateful protesters
Presented protest as public questioning of social values, most effective form being art and peace because it is less polarizing and not violent
Gandhi: people peacefully make salt in sand to protest British salt tax
Mike Brown: simple protest by song prompts conversation, which shows a shift in values (Croft)
Analysis
Background Context
A hate crime is an offense such as murder, vandalism, arson carried out because of bias. In one year in the US (2016), there were over 7,200 hate crime offenses but this number is most likely an underestimate- not all crimes are reported. (FBI)
Root Causes
Genetic/evolutionary predispositions: natural human tendency for prejudice and categorization (Walters)
Over half (58.5%) of hate crimes stemmed from racial/ancestry bias (FBI)
Not factors that the individual has any control over (born into it), but is targeted because of their history and ancestors. Likely, the individual did nothing to aggravate the offender other than exist as a person of a specific ethnicity
Thrill: groups of young men seek excitement by targeting victims of groups that they believe the other person is different or that society does not care for the person and will even support their violent actions (Burke)
Societal issue: how to promote thrill without actions of violence as well as promote care for people of all communities as not to give the idea that no one cares about this group
Response to Threat (defensive/retaliatory): acts in the belief that they will keep community safe or eye-for-an-eye attacks in response to personal offense or acts of terrorism (Burke)
After 9/11, retaliatory attacks against Arabs and Muslims increased by 1600%
People feel justified if they are eliminating what they believe to be is the issue, but in fact, they are just making the body count higher. More killing doesn’t solve killing, especially if the victims are subject to stereotypes and false assumptions (not actually a threat to public safety)
Mission offenders: deadliest type of crime in which offenders consider themselves crusaders for racial/religious cause by promoting total war (Burke)
Effects
Psychological distress
Message indicates to victims that they are unwelcome and unsafe
Can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, anger (American Psychology Association)
When one of the main causes of hate crime is reaction to a threat, hate crime becomes perpetuated cycle: promotes negative feelings that cause hate violence which feed more hate violence in return
This means hate violence is not on one side. White people have historically carried out hate violence on other groups (e.g. Ku Klux Klan), but minorities violently reacting back are similarly at fault even if they feel that they are “justified” because the structure is against them
Eye for an eye is not a law, there are more productive ways to react
Discernment
Catholic Scripture
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person… And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well… Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Catholic Youth Bible, Matthew 5:38-42)
In this Bible verse, Matthew essentially reverses the words of the Old Testament to say that it takes one person to rise above to break the cycle of violence. Rather than a tit for tat, you must be the person that chooses peace over revenge, which speaks to the idea of nonviolent protest even in the face of consistent and outright immoral wrongdoings.
Catholic Tradition
“‘The one way out of the vicious circle of requiting evil for evil’ is not the use of force, but the building of peace through nonviolence and dialogue. As Gandhi’s method of nonviolent resistance shows, it draws a response from many people.” (The Road to Peace Based on Nonviolence – Now is the Time to be Prophetic 3)
This message from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan emphasizes the need for empathy from the people. Someone has to break the cycle of “evil for evil”, and it must start from a place of understanding and conversation rather than enforced violence.
PSJ connections
Catholic Social Teaching of Call to Family, Participation, and Community emphasizes the importance of living relationships with one another (Windley-Daoust)
Coming from this place of togetherness, it is crucial that we look to one another – regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation – to encourage people to unite in a diverse community. Earth is home to a diverse group of people and we must work to ensure that everyone feels they have a place here
PSJ Specific: Redlining: In the 1930s, the U.S. government’s Federal Housing Administration promoted geographical segregation through the implementation of a policy called “redlining”. Essentially, regions in and near African-American and other non-white neighborhoods were graded “red”, meaning that they were denied financial and social services such as banking and mortgage insurance. (Donlin)
The lasting effects of redlining is seen today in areas that are significantly comprised of people of color and are also notable under funded. This lack of financial support manifests itself in the cycle of poverty and crime in these areas. A domino effect results, as this turns people of color in these impoverished areas to lifestyles of violence and crime to get by and simultaneously feeds the general stereotype that people of color are violent, which is often used to “justify” violent actions against them (e.g. lynching, racial profiling). The still present segregation of white and non-white families in neighborhoods and the confinement of the latter to underfunded areas perpetuates violent interactions between the groups that are unable to find common ground.
Personal reflection: Upon first thought, I thought the concept of nonviolence would be fairly simple to navigate. Even though my parents were not Catholic, my sister and I were taught morals that align exactly with Catholic values. Specifically looking at the “Golden Rule” (treat others the way you want to be treated), I thought that it was insane that grown adults could not grasp a concept that seemed so simple to four-year old me. This idea, while simple in concept, becomes complicated by human emotion and tendencies. Our history is riddled with violence and wrong-doings, so much so that we have dug ourselves into a heavy cycle of poverty and revenge. It hurts me to see that sometimes we feel the only way to feel better is to right our wrongs through violence. Recently, my generation has stepped up to the frontline to speak up for necessary change. Through this process of analyzing hate violence, I have realized that a policy of nonviolence is the only way we can move forward cleanly, without demanding that we take necessary steps back in the future.
Action
Direct service – volunteer at local events with the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, an organization that helps promote a peaceful, nonviolent society through offering spaces and resources for organization and hosts public forums to educate on how to creatively take action (San Jose Peace and Justice Center).
Direct service – volunteer with At Home Humanitarian to help refugees, immigrants, and asylees (common targets of discrimination and hate crimes) feel at home by offering supplies and mentors in their new communities (At Home Humanitarian).
Advocacy – take action by signing petitions for issues you care about or donate to the ACLU, which promotes respect for civil liberties, fairness, and equality through nonviolent means (e.g. litigation, legislative advocacy) (ACLU Northern California).
Advocacy – learn more about the history of nonviolence and donate to The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, a resource center dedicated to remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. through social change and educational opportunities locally and globally (The King Center).