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“Lovely Place of Refuge”: Interfaith Justice Forum Tackles Hate in California

September 9, 2025

In a virtual community forum hosted by the California Commission on the State of Hate, experts discussed the growing polarization in America and strategies to combat hate through dialogue. The September 5th Zoom event featured speakers from UCLA's Bendari Kindness Institute, Western Justice Center, and the Interfaith Speakers Bureau who shared their work in promoting understanding across differences. Presenters highlighted successful initiatives including restorative justice in schools, interfaith dialogue programs, and community-building efforts that have helped address incidents of hate and bigotry.

Who is affected

  • California residents, particularly those from marginalized communities experiencing hate incidents
  • School students and teachers dealing with hate incidents and cyberbullying
  • Jewish and Muslim communities facing increased antisemitism and Islamophobia
  • Various religious communities (Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews) targeted by bigotry
  • Californians from diverse backgrounds impacted by societal polarization

What action is being taken

  • The California Commission on the State of Hate is holding community forums on dialogue across differences
  • Western Justice Center is training students and teachers in Southern California schools in restorative justice practices
  • The Interfaith Speakers Bureau is conducting inclusion and belonging training programs and educational presentations
  • CA vs Hate operates a non-emergency, multilingual hate crime reporting hotline and online portal
  • The State of Hate Commission produces annual hate incident reports and offers policy recommendations

Why it matters

  • America has become more polarized in the last decade than at any time since the Civil War
  • Viewing opponents as enemies can justify violence and hate
  • Antisemitism and Islamophobia have surged in California since the Israel-Hamas War began
  • Building bridges between communities can counteract societal fragmentation
  • Community-led peacemaking efforts starting "from the ground up" are crucial for fostering inclusion

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint