The wave of bias incidents that has swept the nation since Donald Trump was elected president is drawing targeted responses from the local and state governments.
The office of Gov. Tom Wolf last week outlined a formal “response plan” following a series of race- and religion-based incidents in Pennsylvania schools. According to a release from the governor, all school districts in the state have been directed to contact the Office of Safe Schools directly after any bias-related incident occurs. The office will then supply counselors to the school and work with the Pennsylvania Commission on Human Relations to evaluate if further resources are needed.
“We need to fight racism and bigotry when it arises and my administration will work actively with school districts and other public institutions to stand up to intolerance,” the governor said in a statement. “Our schools must be safe and open spaces where all children can learn and grow free of concerns for their physical, mental and emotional safety.”
In the days following the election, reports surfaced of chants of “white power” at a York high school, racist and anti-LGBT graffiti at a Bucks County high school and several verbal and physical attacks at local colleges.
According to the governor’s outline, representatives of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mid-Atlantic Equity Center, Intermediate Units, Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network and PHRC met to address the issue and formulated the response plan.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education disseminated the plan Nov. 16 and urged superintendents to also come up with their own targeted efforts to “effectively prevent and address harassment, intimidation, violence and discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, national origin or disability.”
The department also intends to engage with nonprofits and commissions within the governor’s office to generate further suggestions on curbing hate-based incidents in schools. Its Office of Commonwealth Libraries has also forwarded a booklist of titles that “share a message of unity, acting with kindness toward others and promoting peace” to schools, which can be found at http://www.ala.org/alsc/booklists.
If students or families feel that harassment is not being adequately addressed in their school, they are encouraged to contact the Office for Safe Schools’ Bullying Prevention Consultation Line at 1-866-716-0424. Messages can be left 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams this week announced that his office has assigned a dedicated assistant district attorney in each of the six geographic zones that make up the office to “vigorously prosecute any hate crime.”
In a statement, Williams added that violence or property damage “will not be tolerated.”
“Regardless of whether these actions are committed in the name of the president-elect or in opposition to him, they have no place in the city of Philadelphia,” Williams said.
The Mayor’s Office of Communication last week also released a guide on the city’s effort to support diversity and inclusion. The document defines a hate crime as “a criminal act that is motivated by prejudice or bias,” based on a victim’s “race, color, religion, gender, ethnic identification, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Victims or witnesses of a hate crime should immediately call 911 and also report the incident to the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or [email protected]. Calls can also be made to PCHR’s new anonymous hotline at 215-686-2856.
The guide noted that the police and District Attorney’s Office work jointly to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. PCHR investigates and responds to hate crimes and bias incidents on a community level, conducting community meetings, facilitating disputes and connecting victims with resources.
The document also included resources for immigrants concerned about deportation after Trump’s pledges to deport millions of illegal immigrants. Among the organizations the city cited are Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society/Council Migration Service of Philadelphia, Nationalities Service Center, Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
The guide also urged Philadelphians to get more actively involved in their communities to stem the tide of bias.
“Mayor Kenney has asked Philadelphians to step up and become educators, foster parents, rec-center volunteers, homeless-outreach workers, participants in our Police Service Areas and all those jobs and volunteer roles that make Philadelphia its best self,” city officials wrote in the guide. “There are so many productive ways that you can channel your feelings into productive actions that help build bridges and strengthen our communities.”
Volunteer opportunities are available at serve.phila.gov.