Speaking Out Against Bigoted, Dehumanizing Rhetoric:
WHAT WE CAN DO

The extreme violence suffered by Israeli and Palestinian civilians since October 7 has been accompanied by an alarming escalation of dangerous speech and hate violence in the U.S. directed against Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim people, and those perceived as belonging to these groups. 

Antisemitism, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry are equally unacceptable. In the face of anguish, fear, and conflict, there is a first step we all can take. However we may differ, we should all be able to agree – violence, and the dehumanizing and bigoted rhetoric that can lead to violence, erodes movements for justice, equity, and inclusive democracy, and must be denounced. 

This is a time of rising fear and grave threat for members of many targeted communities, as white nationalists and other anti-democracy actors exploit the crisis to spread their message, recruit supporters, and drive a wedge between communities that have many common interests. We can mourn the loss of life, reject all hatred and bigotry, engage in principled organizing, and do so without leaving any openings for white nationalists to exploit.  

As organizations with the shared goal of strengthening inclusive democracy, Western States Center (WSC) and our partners at Princeton’s Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI) are proud to release a new tool this week, "Speaking Out Against Bigoted, Dehumanizing Rhetoric: What We Can Do." The new guide documents the surge in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate incidents, explains the link between rhetoric and violence, and provides suggestions and resources to take action.