As I told my father, who called me with the news, in tears, YOU CAN DO MORE THAN CRY. WE can ALL do more.
We, you, I, can support, and call on others, to support groups working against hate.
My father was struck by this event because he and my mother lived two blocks from the Tree of Life Synagogue when I was a newborn. I also lived nearby while attending Carnegie Mellon University in the late 1970’s.
The biggest and most effective group working against hate, as far as I can tell, is the Southern Poverty Law Center. You can Google them, or click on their underlined name above. They are the ones who put the KKK out of business, among other ongoing useful work. They track hate groups, generally work for justice, and teach tolerance with their program for school teachers, “Teaching Tolerance.”
Just like the Parkland High School students turned their grief into action, it is imperative that we all do the same.
If we don’t feel that we are in a position to go and attend, or organize, demonstrations, we can financially support those who put their real skin and guts into the work of uplifting humanity.
Amen.
Time to stand up!