For four days stretching over two weeks, leadership from the Synod of the Trinity’s presbyteries came together to share their concerns and learn how to combat hate behavior that continues to be prevalent in our communities. These Regional Connection for Partnership and Networking gatherings helped show how hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and Proud Boys have a presence in areas throughout our region that many do not realize.
“Silence is the welcome mat for hate, whether it’s our silence when a hate group comes to town or whether it’s our silence when a friend tells a racist joke,” says Ann Van Dyke, one of the presenters at the Synod’s regional meetings who was a civil rights investigator and trainer in Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. “Our silence tells the perpetrators that we will tolerate their hate and it tells the victims of hate that we do not value them enough to speak up. Silence is the welcome mat for hate. Speak up.”
A webpage has been created that includes links to all of the resources that were used during the regional meetings, including recordings of presentations. Find it here:
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