Turning the Tide on Hate and Racism in Tompkins County is a Project for All of Us

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

6 August 2024

How does it feel to know Black educators in our community face threats of racial violence? What do you think of reports that Black farmers feel unwelcome and experience harassment? Or the tragic irony of children targeted by racial slurs and insults in Stewart Park on the Fourth of July?

We call attention to these events to condemn the brazen, racist targeting and threats of recent occurrence in our community. Acts of racist hate have no place in any community.

Admittedly, it should not take a tide of several instances for us to speak up and speak out against targeted harassment in our community.

We commit to speaking up and using our platforms to condemn hate and foster dialogue. Calling out and addressing hate is our civic duty.

We support community-based efforts to stand up to and call out racism and harassment. We also acknowledge the role government and other institutions play in preventing and responding to such acts.

It is essential to center the experiences of those who have been directly impacted by these acts of racial hatred. The pain and trauma endured by individuals who are targeted simply because of their race cannot be overstated. Their stories remind us of the urgent need for solidarity and support. As a community, we must stand together to support those who have been affected, both directly and indirectly, by these occurrences. Empathy, understanding, and active support are crucial in fostering an environment where everyone feels safe and valued.

For those of you who participate in such hateful and aggressive behavior, you fail to acknowledge the humanity of those you target. The pain you directly inflict on others, who are in every respect your equal in dignity, worth and rights, affects the rest of us indirectly. Your actions further nothing but hate. We hope you will seek the higher ground of respect for and acceptance of those whose ethnicity is different from yours.

To those who want to foster justice and peace in our community, your role cannot be understated. If you are a bystander to prejudice, interveneby interrupting and challenging discriminatory situations. Report bias or hate incidentsand illegal discrimination(you may seek support from our local Office of Human Rights). Use your voice. Seek common ground with those with whom you disagree. Get to know your neighbors and build community.

If you feel the way we do, then don't be left stunned. Community is what we all make it. Get involved. Stay involved. Together we can turn the tide on hate and racism.

Signed,

Dr. Kenneth I. Clarke, Sr., Director, Tompkins County Human Rights

African Women's Initiative, Ithaca

Dr Aloja A. Airewele, Cornerstone Ministries

Dr. Peter Bardaglio, Trustee, New Roots Charter School

Jennifer Biloski, Trustee, Village of Cayuga Heights

Shawna Black, Vice Chair, Tompkins County Legislature

Katherine Borgella, Commissioner of Planning and Sustainability, Tompkins County

Laura Branca, Project Director, Dorothy Cotton Institute

Phoebe Brown, Alderwoman, Ward 1, City of Ithaca

Robert G. Cantelmo, Mayor of Ithaca

Katie Church, Director, Youth Farm Project

Yolanda W. Clarke, Assistant Professor, Health, SUNY Cortland

Daniel J. Cornell, Probation Director, Tompkins County

Susan Currie, Legislator, District 3, City of Ithaca

Deborah Dawson, Tompkins County Legislator, District 10

Christina Dravis, Councilperson, Town of Dryden

Jennifer Forte, LCSW, Senior Psychiatric Social Worker, Tompkins County Whole Health

Jeff Furman, President, Ben & Jerry's Foundation

Rachel E. Graham, Executive Deputy County Clerk, Tompkins County Clerks Office

Sally Grubb, Co-President, League of Women Voters of Tompkins County

Dr. Jason Hamilton, Chair, New Roots Charter School Board of Trustees

Susan Holland, Executive Director, Historic Ithaca/Significant Elements

Lisa Holmes, County Administrator, Tompkins County

Charlene Holmes, Chief Equity and Diversity Officer, Tompkins County

Rod Howe, Supervisor, Town of Ithaca

Gregg Houck, Ithaca Youth Bureau Director, LGBTQ+ Community Liaison

Kent L. Hubbell, Trustee of the Village of Cayuga Heights

Jarra Jagne, Associate Professor of Practice, Cornell University

Norma Jayne, Deputy County Administrator, Tompkins County

Rev. Terrance A. King, Pastor, St. James A.M.E. Zion Church

Dan Klein, Chair, Tompkins County Legislature

Clyde Lederman, Alderperson, Fifth Ward, City of Ithaca, NY

Jason Leifer, Supervisor, Town of Dryden

Jan Lynch. Executive Director, Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC)

Erin Marteal, Interim Executive Director, Ithaca Children's Garden

Dr. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Director, Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC)

Indi McCasey, Executive Director, Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI)

Norbert G. McCloskey, Executive Director, Ithaca Health Alliance/Ithaca Free Clinic

Schelley Michell-Nunn, Member, Community Leaders of Color (CLOC)

Tommy Miller, Social Justice Artist

Heather Mount, Executive Director, Coddington Road Community Center, Inc.

Tina Nilsen-Hodges, Principal and Superintendent, New Roots Charter School

Ducson Nguyen, Alderperson, Ward 2, City of Ithaca

Bridgette Nugent, Deputy County Administrator, Tompkins County

Derek Osborne, Sheriff, Tompkins County

Dominick Recckio, Communications Director, Tompkins County

Kristina M. Rennekamp, Trustee, Village of Cayuga Heights

Richard F. Robinson, Trustee and Deputy Mayor, Village of Cayuga Heights

Eric Rosario, Associate Vice President, College Relations and Advancement, Ithaca College

Lance Salisbury, Supervising Attorney, Assigned Counsel Program

Dr. Tanya Saunders, Trustee, New Roots Charter School

Dr. Thomas Shevory, Trustee, New Roots Charter School

Harry Smith, BlackHands Universal

Christopher R. Sponn, Executive Director, Tompkins County Workforce Development

Jeffrey B. Smith, Director, Tompkins County Highway Department

Peyi Soyinka-Airewele, Professor, Ithaca College & Chair, Tompkins County Human Rights Commission

Michael J. Stitley, Director, Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response

Julia Taylor, Executive Director, Civic Ensemble

Cate Thompson, Trustee, New Roots Charter School

Gina Tinker-Williams, Executive Director, Conflict Dispute and Resolution Center

Tompkins County Human Rights Commission

Dr. Joseph Wilson, Trustee, New Roots Charter School

Matthew Van Houten, Tompkins County District Attorney

Anke Wessels, Executive Director, Center for Transformative Action

Linda Woodard Mayor, Village of Cayuga Heights

Karen Yearwood