Prevent antisemitism
Professor Ari Kohen, Łukasz Niparko, and partners are hosting a series of workshops on the prevention of antisemitism and discrimination for undergraduate students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
March 2
Stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination and its prevention
Led by Professor Ari Kohen and Łukasz Niparko at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
March 4
First Amendment Rights
Led by ACLU facilitators at the ACLU of Nebraska
CANCELED: March 18
Antisemitism and its prevention
Led by ACLU facilitators at the Institute for Holocaust Education in Omaha
Essay competition
The prevention of discrimination and antisemitism is crucial,
but how can we accomplish it?
The essay competition ended February 2, 2020.
Winners of the essay competition receive access to the workshops and a study trip to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, IL., April 17-19, 2020.
Note: the study trip is canceled.
Prompt
You are the Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois in 1977. Issue a statement in which you either direct your ACLU branch to support the First Amendment rights of the neo-Nazis intending to march through Skokie, IL or else instruct them to oppose the march. Justify your decision.
Judges
Entries will be judged by a committee of experts representing the ACLU, the IHE, and the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.
Prizes
A certificate, a material prize, and coverage of the costs for educational materials, transportation, meals, and lodging.
Format
2-3 pages with one-inch margins as a ".doc" or ".docx" file.
Why is this important?
“When I was the rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the [nazi] regime, I learned many things.
The most important thing that I learned under those tragic circumstances was that bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem.
The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is... silence.”
Rabbi Joachim Prinz
Following the memorable words of Rabbi Prinz spoken to those in Washington, DC who fought for civil rights in the United States, the worst that we can choose to do is to remain silent and indifferent. Yet, is there a need to speak up? 2018 and 2019 have proven that - yes - there is the need to speak and act against rising antisemitism. This is a global need.
But to spark the ripple effect of change, we need to touch our home communities first.
In fact, we may quickly find out that it is where our words and actions are needed the most. Over the past two years, in Nebraska, we have observed an increase in antisemitic attacks by six percent. It might sound little, but 18 persons, with their families, friends, and communities were attacked. What is more, compared to the other states in the Great Plains region, Nebraska had the highest number of antisemitic crimes. Furthermore, the largest distribution source of neo-nazi printed materials was located for many years in Beatrice, Nebraska.
Sponsors
This project is generously supported by the Foundation EVZ. It does not represent an expression of opinion by the Foundation EVZ. The authors bear the responsibility.
Action Projects are independent initiatives of Humanity in Action Fellows and Senior Fellows that address social and human rights issues around the world.