10 Sep ‘A Lovely Place of Refuge’: Interfaith Justice Forum Tackles Hate in California

(Photo. by Christian Buehner on Unsplash)

McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Americans became more polarized in the last decade than at any time in U.S. history since the Civil War, according to Maia Ferdman, the deputy director of UCLA’s Bendari Kindness Institute and staff director of the university’s Dialogue Across Difference Initiative.

 “Not only do we just vote or think differently, we dislike or mistrust people who are different from us,” Ferdman explained.  

Seeing opponents as enemies can justify violence and hate, Ferdman also warned. “Bridge-building,” she said, “can counteract the fraying of society.”

Ferdman’s insights framed the tone of the California Commission on the State of Hate’s “Virtual Community Forum on Dialogue Across Differences” held via Zoom on Sept. 5.

The two-hour community forum’s other speakers included Western Justice Center Executive Director Elissa Barrett and Interfaith Speakers Bureau speakers Maha Elgenaidi and Karen Stiller.

State of Hate Commissioners Cynthia Choi, Regina Cuellar, Cece Feiler, Russell Roybal, Erroll Southers, and Chair Brian Levin shared their ideas and perspectives, too.

The Commission on the State of Hate is a division of the state’s Civil Rights Department was established to strengthen California’s efforts to stop hate and promote mutual respect among the Golden State’s diverse population. It produces annual hate incident reports and offers community-informed policy recommendations to reduce the impacts of hate on Californians.

Barrett, whose organization focuses on restorative justice in schools, shared that the Western Justice Center has trained 4,000 students and teachers in Southern California school systems in the last three years to manage conflict and reduce violence through restorative justice circles, student engagement projects, and peer mediators.

Recently, Barrett said, the Western Justice Center co-led a mediation with students and teachers between a 12th grader who defaced school property with a swastika and a teacher whom the senior had directed racist language toward. During the mediation, the student explained the root of his actions and the teacher discussed the betrayal of trust.

“We were able to have the student and teacher talk about how it had impacted them,” Barrett explained. “We designed amends for the student to make and be able to graduate.”

The Western Justice Center also co-facilitated a restorative circle with fifth graders, who were targeted by cyberbullying and racist language on social media, and their classmates who typed the posts.

Elgenaidi, executive director of the Islamic Networks Group, said the organization founded the Interfaith Speakers Bureau 20 years ago.

 “We realized we could focus on the challenges we share here at home. Combating Islamophobia and antisemitism, strengthening security, and building inclusion are priorities we had in common. Out of that realization, our very first Muslim/Jewish panel was born.”

Today, the Bureau includes members of several faith communities who host inclusion and belonging training programs — where participants are valued, seen, and respected — along with educational presentations and panels designed to explore interfaith topics involving Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews and combat all forms of bigotry.

These sessions with schools and businesses challenge stereotypes, deepen understanding, and build respect.

Elgenaidi said the Israel-Hamas War, which began in October 2023, ignited a “time of polarization,” but the Bureau models what civil discourse and allyship should look like during its presentations.

“Standing together also signals not only solidarity, but also the recognition that our struggles — antisemitism and Islamophobia — are very much interconnected,” she stated. “They are often fueled by the same forces of ignorance, fear, and hate.” 

Stiller, a Bureau speaker for 15 years, called the group a “lovely place of refuge” in the face of antisemitism which has surged in California since Israel responded to Hamas’ coordinated surprise attack sparked their war.

“Some Jews aren’t feeling safe to show their identity as Jews,” she said. “We are standing together with allies against these forms of hate.”

Commission Chair Brian Levin acknowledged the forum’s speakers were all women during a time when aggression and misinformation are undermining the culture of inclusion and dialogue promoted by institutions that support peace.

“Perhaps we should have more respect and access to leadership for those who are doing such a beautiful job with peace-making,” he said. “Oftentimes it starts from the ground up, not from the elite down — and it starts locally.”

How To Report A Hate Crime: 

CA vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal. Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833) 866-4283, or 833-8-NO-HATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or online at any time. 

Hate acts can be reported in 15 different languages through the online portal and in over 200 languages when calling the hotline. For individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in imminent danger, please call 911.  

For more information on CA vs Hate, please visit CAvsHate.org.