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Philip Rodney Moon
MSU’s campus was host to a statewide conference on hate crimes. The Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes (MIAAHC) and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, with a grant from the Crime Victims Services Commission, put on the conference to address the issue of hate in the state of Michigan. The event, originally predicting 300 people, grew to 350 participants before registration shut down. The group was made up of law enforcement, community leaders, education officials, and civil rights groups . According to moderator Alberto M. Flores, the event was still receiving registrations up to the day before the event. “Obviously folks, there is a lot of interest,” he told the crowd in his opening remarks. I was drawn to this conference by my own investigative work into the MSU chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). That group was named one of 25 hate groups in the state by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which labeled the “general hate”. I’ve helped build on the SPLC’s case, collecting evidence and posting it to the YAF Watch blog (http://yafwatch.blogspot.com). The conference gave an idea of how hate crimes are studied and prosecuted in the state. Linda Parker, Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, spoke about the unique position her department had in Michigan. “We are the only civil rights department in the country with Constitutional authority,” Parker said, referring to a 1963 referendum that gave the Department its status. She spoke of Michigan’s ranking in hate crimes in the country. Michigan ranks third in reported hate crimes, with 640 crimes reported. She noted that reporting was voluntary, and many states did not send reports or could have underreported hate crimes. She lauded state law enforcement for its willingness to report crimes. She addressed thecrowd for its role in preventing hate crimes. “It’s critical you begin to address the issue of hate and work to begin to build united communities,” Parker said. Dr. Randy Blazak of the Hate Crimes Research network spoke next, telling his experience growing up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. “I was one of those haters,” Blazak said. “As a teenager I was a Klan sympathizer.” Blazak said his views were changed when he left Stone Mountain and was embraced by others. He used his experience to emphasize that many people come from backgrounds that only give them a narrow view of the world. “I would warn people not to hate the hater,” Blazak said. I was recording Blazak when I was approached by one of the security officials. He asked me to put away that camera. I told him I was on assignment for Spartan Edge. It took several minutes and help from journalist and fellow YAF watch blogger Todd Heywood, but we managed to get permission to tape Mark Potok’s speech, and the Governor’s as long as none of her security had any objection. Here's how the rest of the event played out. Click on each link: Educational Communities Role in Combating Hate Lunch with the Governor and Mark Potok of the SPLC Running a Counterdemonstration Against a Hate Group
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