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July 13, 2001/Tamuz 22, 5761, Vol. 53, No.40
Valley leaders declare campaign against hate
BARRY COHEN
Editor
Some 225 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Valley leaders are declaring with a Not in Our State campaign that Arizona must be independent of hate and intolerance.
The National Conference for Community and Justice sponsored a press conference at the Arizona state capitol on Friday, July 6. Speakers included Monsignor Edward Ryle, executive director of the Arizona Catholic Conference; Rabbi Bonnie Koppell of Temple Beth Sholom in Chandler; Rev. Oscar Tillman, of the Maricopa County office of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People; George Weisz, executive assistant to Gov. Jane Hull; Paul Steen, president of the Arizona chapter of the American Jewish Committee; and Franki Snyder, board chairman of the Anti-Defamation League.
"We are using this time to affirm the fact that we need to respect each other across all lines," including race, religion and gender, said Rory Gilbert, NCCJ executive director.
In 1927, NCCJ was founded as the National Conference of Christians and Jews; its mission is to fight bigotry and racism in the United States.
The Not in Our State campaign, which includes the wearing of green ribbons, is a response to publicized plans by Dennis Mahon - Midwest leader of the White Aryan Resistance - to move to Kingman and begin efforts to recruit in Arizona. Founded in the early 1980s by Tom Metzger and his son John, the White Aryan Resistance describes itself as "the most racist group in the country."
The NCCJ campaign is also a reaction to mailings in June of copies of the White Aryan Resistance newspaper, WAR, to community leaders in Gilbert.
The campaign will culminate with a rally Aug. 12. According to Weisz's press conference statement, that date will be officially declared Not in Our State Day in Arizona.
Gilbert said NCCJ will encourage Valley houses of worship and businesses to distribute green ribbons for people to wear, tie to car antennae and affix to mailboxes to show that messages of hate are not welcome.
"We cannot keep others from having racist, intolerant beliefs, but we can fill the void with (the idea of) inclusion and respect for all people," said Gilbert.
Ryle said he was pleased NCCJ asked him to participate at the press conference.
"I was around in 1993 when we did the Martin Luther King holiday, when the people of Arizona came to the fore (and voted to commemorate a day in honor of the civil rights leader)," said Ryle. The Not in Our State campaign, he remarked, gives Arizonans a chance to stand up again "in respect for human dignity."
Koppell echoed his views. "The importance of the green ribbon campaign is a coming together of different faiths, united as children of God and in the divine image," she said.
During Shabbat services July 6, Koppell spoke about the campaign and referenced "The Christmas Menorahs - How a Town Fought Hate," a book by Janice Cohn that recounts how Billings, Mont., citizens responded to violence by hate groups in 1993 by displaying Hanukkah menorahs in their windows.
We had "an amazing, strong response" after the worship service, she said. By the end of evening, congregants had picked up all of the available green ribbons and NCCJ literature. They "were glad to do something proactive," said Koppell.
At the press conference, Steen referred to a July 9 Newsweek article by George Will about the massacre of the Jedwabne Jewish population by their fellow Poles in 1941. "Will said it happened because it was allowed to happen," said Steen. He added that such a tragedy should not be allowed to happen here.
"No one is born hating," said Steen. He added that Valley leaders must not permit any militant group to teach children how to hate.
Snyder said the ADL welcomes the opportunity to work with the NCCJ, the AJC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix to spread a positive message.
"I hope we find the forum to come together and work (toward) a common goal. ... What is important is that extremist groups will not be here to spread their venom," said Snyder.
"This is beginning a dialogue about race, religion, gender and sexual orientation," said Gilbert. She said she hopes the Not in Our State campaign will continue past the Aug. 12 rally and "awaken us from our complacency."
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