Teaching forgiveness and peace in our schools

As part of our educational program, We Are Many – United Against Hate organized its first school outreach event: “Forgiveness After Hate & Then Promoting Peace Together” at Mount Horeb High School on May 23rd. About 800 students attended the 2-hour event. The impetus for this program started when two students from this school attended our “Moving Past Hate” event (hosted at Monona Terrace on December 10, 2017) and were so impressed and moved that they convinced their teachers and administrators to invite us so that their students can listen to this powerful message of Arno (a former White Supremacist) and Pardeep Kaleka (son of a victim). The event was a great success and has helped engage and empower these students to make a difference in their community. The two students have been appointed on the Advisory Board of United Against Hate and will take the lead in organizing similar educational events at various High Schools, particularly those located in rural communities throughout Wisconsin.

We just received this text message from Mount Horeb about the event:

“Thank you again for making today possible! The students got so much from the assembly and talked all day about the positive messages they took away. I heard multiple times that you all were the best speakers they’ve ever heard. It wouldn’t have happened without you. We appreciate all of your efforts! We can’t thank you enough. The students are still talking about it and the impact it had on them. Even parents are emailing about what a wonderful opportunity our school provided to our community.”

Click here for media coverage of this event at channel3000.com.

Special Event: “Moving Past Hate”

It’s been five years since the attack on the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, when the calm of a Sunday on August 5, 2012, was shattered by a White Supremacist Gunman killing six innocent people and wounded others. This gunman was a member of a hate group founded by Arno Michaelis.

Please join us on December 10, 2017 at the Monona Terrace from 1:30 to 4:30 pm (door opens at 1:00PM), to hear how Arno and the victim’s son and family members came together for peaceful reconciliation and humankind.

Find out more details at our Facebook Event page.

United Against Hate flyer FINAL

United We Stand: A Community Gathering in Support of Our Neighbors Subject to Deportation or Discrimination

A city-wide gathering to support our community’s immigrant residents in the face of potential attacks by the next administration will be held on

Sunday, January 29th (2PM-5 PM)
at Monona Terrace Conference Center.

United We Stand, organized by a committee of community leaders, Madison Alders led by Samba Baldeh and Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith leaders, will provide information on the legal rights of immigrants, the perspectives of local, state and national elected officials and how we can help each other in the difficult times ahead.

Speakers include Mayor Soglin, representatives of the Latino and Muslim civil rights organizations, the ACLU and faith leaders. The afternoon meeting will be moderated by Rev. Everett Mitchell, Dane County Judge and Pastor of Christ the Solid Rock Church.

“This effort is in response to unprecedented attacks and threats by the President-elect against millions of Americans. Despite the fact that I am an elected official and American citizen, I feel that my safety and that of my family and the immigrant community is in jeopardy. I know that thousands of other area residents are quietly living in fear and that this is inconsistent with what I believe to be American values.” said Ald. Samba Baldeh, who emigrated from Gambia 18 years ago and is Muslim.

Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim shared a different perspective. “Many members of the Jewish community have a strong commitment to stand with our Muslim and Latino neighbors.  We grew up learning about the Nazi persecution of Jews, as well as the imperative of protecting the most vulnerable among us.  We fear the increasing power of white supremacists and know that communities must stand together, speaking out against hatred and injustice.”

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, who will provide opening remarks to the meeting said, “Many Madison residents have contacted me who are not personally endangered by the threats of deportation or registration. But they know that their neighbors, friends and colleagues may be targeted and they want to know how they can help. We want to gather these folks together and give them practical answers.”