A panel of experts will discuss hate and resistance in the Inland Empire tomorrow at a free public event in downtown Riverside co-hosted by Zócalo Public Square and California Humanities.
“We know that it’s an important topic right now, particularly leading up to the election,” Rick Noguchi, president and CEO of California Humanities, said. “But even beyond that, racism runs very deep in this country, and that’s something that we have to combat.”
The event — titled “How Does the Inland Empire Strike Back Against Hate?” — will be held both in-person at UCR Arts, 3824 Main St., and streamed live on YouTube starting at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. Those who attend in person are also invited to a post-event reception with complimentary small bites and beverages.
Panelists include State Sen. Corey A. Jackson, Mapping Black California Project Director Candice Mays and ACLU Southern California Senior Policy Advocate and Organizer Luis Nolasco. The panel will be moderated by California State University, San Bernardino professor Brian Levin.
“That’s what the humanities is about, bringing different perspectives to the table so you can understand the topic from different points of view,” Noguchi said. “And so we did want to have a range of perspectives to talk about this issue in the Inland Empire and how hate has been resisted in that area.”
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, hate crimes in the state more than doubled from 2019 to 2022, with violent hate crimes causing the bulk of the recent increase.
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“We know that this country is very divided right now, and there’s been increased hate crimes against various groups, and so we feel that the humanities can play a real role in being able to bridge that divide,” Noguchi said. “The humanities can be used, you know, to increase empathy, but then also to foster civic dialog and civic engagement as an approach to really bring people together.”
According to a release for the event, the panel will discuss the Inland Empire’s history of discrimination and violence going back to the 1920s when the region was a growing outpost for the Ku Klux Klan and looking at how that legacy of discrimination plays out today through antisemitic, anti-Muslim, anti-Black, anti-Latino, anti-Asian and anti-LGBTQ+ movements.
“I think we are just really hoping that people hear about some of the work that’s been going on in the Inland Empire, particularly in that area, because of the politics there, and the history that’s been there and how people have been doing good work to really combat hate,” Noguchi said. “We want people to come away from there learning what’s been going on there and how it could be applied to other areas, but also just hearing these different perspectives from this really stellar panel, and hearing their perspectives about the work that they do and how they have been resisting oppression and hate from outside groups.”
Those interested in attending in person can register online through Eventbrite.
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