08/08/2024
NOT IN OUR TOWN: ANTI-HATE RALLY & FORUM
Date: Sunday, August 11th, 3 PM at Rochester Civic Theatre
30 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/478793571555377
Press Release:https://www.naacprochestermn.org/s/NAACP-Rochester-Press-Release-Anti-Hate-Rally-and-Forum-08-07-24.pdf
The Rochester Branch of the NAACP condemns in the strongest terms the recent uptick in documented incidents of racism, bullying and harassment, hate crimes, and violence perpetrated against Black people, multi-racial families, people of color, and members of the Jewish faith in Rochester, Minnesota, and Olmsted County.
Since the beginning of this year, we have observed numerous hate incidents that attempt to undermine the fabric of the Rochester community, including more recently:
· The vicious hate crime directed towards Minnesota House of Representatives member Kim Hicks and her multi-racial family at their home on Saturday, August 3rd.
· The hate and vandalism targeting B’Nai Israel Synagogue and members of the Jewish community this past weekend.
· The racism and spiteful threats of intimidation that targeted a Black family in Rochester Township with the public display of a person hanging on a noose (lynching). This incident created a hostile environment that prevented them from selling their land to potential buyers. This is no less than an attempt at a modern-day racial covenant.
· The racial slur and hate crime that occurred on the pedestrian bridge near Century High School, whose message targeted Black and Brown communities in Rochester.
· The increased spiteful usage of the n-word targeted towards members of the Black/African American community.
Good people in Rochester work hard to ensure that Rochester, Minnesota, is a great place for everyone to live and work. At the NAACP, we envision an inclusive community rooted in liberation where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination. We are committed to a world without racism, where Black people and marginalized people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
To protect the essence of the positive community many are working towards, we demand strong accountability. We call on the perpetrators of these horrible incidents to be held accountable, charged and convicted with enhanced penalties. We call on timely investigations by law enforcement to help the community heal. We also call on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate these recent incidents thoroughly and encourage all community members and businesses to support law enforcement and the FBI in their investigations. If you know something, say something. We also call on all elected officials and those running for office to forcefully denounce hate speech and actions. A strong message of “Not in our Town” needs to be sent:
1. Not in our town will children feel unsafe.
2. Not in our town will racism be permitted.
3. Not in our town will hatred find a home.
4. Not in our town will anti-Semitism and Islamophobia be tolerated.
5. In our town, we stand with our Black, Brown, and marginalized community members.
6. In our town, “Love Wins.”
The Rochester Branch of the NAACP, in collaboration with the Interfaith organization ISAIAH, will host a public anti-hate forum at the Rochester Civic Theatre on Sunday, August 11th at 3 pm. In attendance will be the families, individuals, and organizations that have been directly impacted by hate. Also in attendance will be city and government officials, elected leaders, community leaders, and organizational leaders. Abolishing racism, hate crimes, and white supremacy isn’t a problem for one group to face alone; it’s a shared burden that requires a strong and unified response. We call on the Rochester community to join us.
