Earlier this month, our nation marked the 235th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. After a hot summer of intense debate and humbling compromises, 39 Americans with diverse interests and backgrounds signed their names to a first-of-its-kind document in world history.
Sitting at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center last week, I kept thinking about the early years of American history, the compromises agreed to that summer of 1787 and how far our “shining city on a hill” has come.
At the same time, I could not help but wonder what our collective future as diverse Americans will hold in an increasingly complex environment grappling with democratic backsliding, unprecedented hate crimes and bitter partisanship.
In 2020, more than 7,700 criminal hate crime incidents were reported to the FBI in the United States. This is an increase of about 450 incidents over 2019.
Attacks targeting Blacks rose to 2,871 from 1,972.
Anti-Asian hate crimes grew exponentially. In New York, there was a 223% spike. In San Francisco, a 140% increase.
The Jewish community is painfully aware that the deadly antisemitic attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill was followed in 2019 by other deadly attacks in Poway, Calif., Jersey City, N.J., and Monsey, N.Y..
Over the last decade, the United States has endured a deeply troubling series of hate-fueled attacks. Sikhs were massacred at their house of worship in Oak Creek, Wis. In May, Black shoppers were massacred at a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y.
Manifestations of antisemitism are often the first indicators of a societal sickness. The recent global rise in hatred against Jews is a fundamental challenge to human rights and the principles of democracy envisioned by the framers of the American Constitution.
The Eradicate Hate Summit gave the more than 500 diverse participants the chance to reflect on the dark days in recent American history. Listening to those whose families were directly affected by hate, participants were reminded that while grief is universal, hope and love are, too.
I met diverse Americans — Jews and gentiles, young and old, from the West Coast, from Pennsylvania and from Europe. I heard family members talk about attacks that took their loved ones as if it was yesterday. Together, participants mapped a hopeful future as we learned from law enforcement professionals in diverse communities who are daily taking this threat seriously and working with community leaders to build bridges.
Hateful rhetoric online too often leads to hate-fueled violence offline. Pittsburgh leaders and everyday voters should call on Congress to get rid of special immunity for social media companies and impose stronger transparency requirements on them.
On my drive home, I reflected on the Constitution’s first sentence, “… in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility … .”
The framers of the Constitution each were deeply familiar with Biblical teachings. Their word choice has guided diverse Americans for over 235 years.
The Eradicate Hate Summit occurred the week before the Jewish New Yar, Rosh HaShana. As American Jews in all 50 states visit synagogues with, in many cases, armed security, my new year’s resolution will be a year more perfect, just and tranquil with fewer incidents violent incidents of hate.
Allentown native Ari Mittleman is the author of “Paths of the Righteous.”
