THREATS: Stand up to hatred

Hate is rearing an ugly head in our region and our town and making national news. On May 26, the AP posted an article “Hate makes a comeback in the Pacific Northwest,” which mentioned Kootenai County specifically in reference to the Post Falls extremist Brittany Pettibone, who seeks to bring her far right Austrian boyfriend to Idaho to live. The article also described nine far right hate groups operating in our area now.

These hate groups are not good for tourism, our economy, our community or our children. Ignoring them or remaining quiet will not stop the hate speech and threats of hateful actions.

What can be done was described in an article on May 25 by Kevin Williams in the NYT, “Hate Comes to Dayton, and Dayton Unites Against It.” In this Ohio city, churches, university students, community members and others peacefully opposed the hate group while singing “Amazing Grace,” drumming and other music. City buses flashed “United Against Hate” on their electronic signboards. Coffee shops and other stores posted anti-hate messages too. United Against Hate spread throughout town and that was the positive, dominant, successful message.

I hope I live in a community that will Unite Against Hate now. Speak out! — people, churches, students, shop owners, businesses, Realtors, everyone. Silence is the Voice of Complicity.

SUZANNE MARSHALL

Coeur d’Alene