Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Campaign aims to buttress fight against bigotry

The Anti-Defamation League, the Clark County School District and local law enforcement officials announced new efforts Tuesday aimed at combating hate, prejudice and bigotry.

The No Place for Hate campaign is already in place in dozens of states. It encourages schools to promote respect for diversity and counter hate group activity, said Anna Karas, spokeswoman for the ADL's Nevada regional office.

"It makes people aware of their own biases," she said. "It's a wonderful way to open up people's minds to different cultures and lifestyles, and since most stereotypes and biases are learned, either at home or school, it can also be unlearned."

As Las Vegas grows, there is no room for hate, bias or prejudice in the community and the campaign is designed to nip negative attitudes and actions in the bud, Karas said.

In recent years increased activity and recruitment has been evident in Southern Nevada, said Cynthia Luria, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. The Aryan Nation and other skinhead groups actively recruit through a variety of means, including the Internet and music. There's even a Las Vegas-based white supremacist band, the American Standard, she said.

"We felt because of an increase in extreme activity, we want everyone to understand that Las Vegas is not a place for hate," Luria said.

Any school, church or civic organization interested in reducing hate crimes may contact the Anti-Defamation League for more information, Luria said.

Corporate sponsors have pledged to the campaign $150,000 for each of the next three years and lesser amounts in the fourth and fifth years of the campaign, she said. Sponsors have pledged from $15,000 to $20,000 apiece, she said.

The No Place for Hate campaign has a four-pronged approach, Luria said.

First, the league printed 15,000 resource guides for programs; second, teachers, administrators and students will receive training; third, the league will continue to provide hate crime training for law enforcement officers and, fourth, information will be supplied to the media to spread the word.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said that any level of hate or intolerance is not acceptable.

"Hatred is not what Las Vegas is about," Goodman said. "We will have zero tolerance for anyone who is intolerant."

According to the FBI, 84 hate crimes were reported to Clark County law enforcement agencies in 2003, the most recent statistics available. An updated hate crime report with 2004 statistics will be released in November.

The FBI has several investigations into civil rights and human trafficking, particularly related to forced labor and prostitution, in Las Vegas, said Bill Woerner, assistant special agent in charge at the FBI.

So far this year Metro Police have received 46 complaints, most of them graffiti on walls, homes or vehicles, said Undersheriff Doug Gillespie. The complaints can range from hate symbols to racial slurs, he said.

Training and education are keys to combating the rise in hate crimes, Gillespie said.

The School District does not track reports of alleged hate crimes separately from other incidents, but School Police are investigating graffiti left at Shadow Ridge High School earlier this month as a potential hate crime. The spray-painted messages, discovered on sidewalks and doors by School Police during an early morning Sunday patrol, included racial epithets.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger, who did not attend the media conference, said hate crime cases have been rare. While not personally familiar with the specifics of the ADL's program, Roger said "Any steps we can take to make sure our young adults accept other individuals from diverse backgrounds is a good thing."

Agustin Orci, co-interim superintendent of the Clark County School District, said the campaign will begin this fall in northeast region schools. The 13 participating campuses were selected based on the interest of campus administrators, Orci said.

The ADL has long provided the district with professional development training materials, including a widely used video training program about gang awareness, Orci said.

"We see this new campaign as an extension of the partnership we already have in place," Orci said. "It's an excellent opportunity to inform our students and our staff."

Marsha Irvin, superintendent for the northeast region, said 13 schools in her region have already signed up to be designated a No Place for Hate after completing goals each school sets from a list of ADL recommendations.

Eight elementary schools and five middle schools are preparing their unique activities. Upon completing their goals, the school may be certified as No Place for Hate.

The anti-bias training for staff is expected to begin at a handful of schools in the second half of the academic year.

The northeast region schools that will participate are: Bowler, Cozine, Herr, Lincoln-Edison, Quanah McCall, Sandy Miller, Virgin Valley and Watson elementary schools; and Mack Lyon, Monaco and Von Tobel middle schools.

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