Asking elected officials to denounce the presence of hateful activity in your community
I’ve shared it on this blog, and the news is covering it more and more each day — white supremacist groups are here, in New Hampshire, and they’re trying to recruit more people each day.
White supremacy and its ideologies are a public health and safety issue.
As community advocates we need to stand for social justice — that means holding present and future elected leaders accountable to denounce hate and keep their constituents safe.
Do we want people who sympathize with bigoted ideologies to make decisions for us when it comes to things like managing our town and state budgets, determining school curriculums, or overseeing our health care?
We need to ask our elected officials and candidates for office if they denounce the presence of white nationalists in our communities.
Ready to get in touch with your elected officials?
First, do your research. Citizens Count has shared a helpful resource to help you find your city, town, state, and federal elected officials.
Next, decide how you want to make the ask. Will you show up to an event they’re planning to attend, do you plan to e-mail them or call them?
Then, get organized. Write down what you want to say and show up or send away.
Here are a few writing prompts to help:
- Use No Hate Granite State’s simply phrased question:
There has been an increased presence of white nationalist and nazi groups demonstrating and distributing recruiting materials in our communities. Do you denounce nazi and white nationalist groups?
It pushes for a simple yes or no answer. And if they can’t say yes or no, read between the lines of what they’re saying. - Share your story and your experience with how this issue impacts your life, family, well-being, etc. If you haven’t been impacted personally, we have a document with up-to-date facts and real-life incidents of acts of hate in NH.
- End with an ask or call to action.
