By James Maroney
State Sen., D-14
James Maroney
When things happen in our world, in our community, in our own hometown, how we respond is important. It is important how we grow and come together and figure out how to put an end to violence – especially violence that is racially motivated.
On May 14, an 18-year-old man driven by hate carried out a racist mass shooting at a supermarket in a mostly Black area of Buffalo, New York. Two days after that, a 36-year-old man carried out a racially motivated shooting in an Asian-owned hair salon in Dallas, Texas.
According to one study, hate crimes in big cities rose by 39 percent in 2021. That is especially scary when you consider 2020 was a record high for hate crimes.
What is driving this rise in hate in our country? More importantly, what can we do to stop it? Thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need action. We all need to commit to making a difference, but how? What can we do as individuals? What can we do as a community? How can we stand together against hate?
Personally, I believe everyone should take part in bystander intervention training so when you see something happen, you have the tools to say something and intervene.
I received training in bystander intervention from an organization that is now known as RightToBe.org. One important thing I learned is that when a bias incident occurs, the severity of the incident is lessened for the victim if someone intervenes. If people are there but don’t help, they become complicit, and it can magnify the severity.
I know that bystander intervention training is not enough. We need to do more. I am a fervent believer in the power of education. I believe that to better understand diverse cultures and beliefs, we need to learn more about them.
Connecticut was one of the first states to require teaching African American and Latino history in our public schools. This past year, we also became one of the first states to require teaching Asian American history. In addition, we voted to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday.
I read an excerpt from “A Shining Thread of Hope: The History of Black Women in America,” and I want to share with you a quote that resonated with me: “But denial of difference is not the road to harmony. It is the road only to a kind of false unity that is so fragile it will splinter at a touch.”
It seems that our false unity has been splintering in the United States, and now more than ever it is important to learn how to appreciate and celebrate differences and understand that not everyone has the same story.
While my position as a state senator gives me a platform to share my views, my life experience does not make me qualified to give solutions. I have never been the victim of a bias incident. What I can share is the best advice anyone can give: listen more. We know that our brothers and sisters are hurting. All kinds of hate are spiking. Anti-Asian hate, anti-Semitism, violence against Black Americans. We need to have more conversations with friends who are different and really listen and try to understand the pain.
While it may seem to those of us who have never been victims of bias crimes that the hate in our country has never been worse, the truth is it has always been there. We need to learn more about what has happened to others who are different than us and commit to understanding. We need to have the tough conversations with friends and family. As we develop a mutual understanding, together we can chart the best path forward.