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NOT IN OUR TOWN II travels to communities inspired
to act against intolerance by the story of Billings, Montana residents who stopped
an upsurge of hateviolence. From Bloomington, Illinois to New York City to Columbia,
South Carolina, citizens rebuild churches and act to prevent racially-motivated
arson. From Columbus, Ohio to Novato, California to Kokomo, Indiana, office workers,
police officers, and newspaper reporters create positive community solutions to
hate violence and the resurgence of Ku Klux Klan activity.
To purchase a tape or DVD of this program, visit theworkinggroup.org for ordering information.
In the Heart of the South -- St. John
BaptistChurch in South Carolina, originally founded by slaves, was nearly
destroyed by racially motivated vandalism in 1985. Ten years later, it burned
to the ground. As members of this small congregation gather at the charred ruins
and vow to rebuild we meet Ammie Murray, who leads community efforts in support
of the parishioners and New York Fire Fighter Pete Critsimilios who was so moved
by St. John Baptist's plight that he sent 100 engraved bibles. Also profiled
are labor union members who rebuild churches throughout the South.
Not in Our Workplace -- Across the street from an
annual Ku Klux Klan cross-burning on the State House lawn in Ohio, State Social Service
Department employees decide to send a different message. Two friends, Lynda Cooksey
and Willa Turner, inspired by the people of Billings, take Not In Our Town to their
workplace and establish the "Not In Our Agency" education campaign for thousands
of employees throughout the state.
When Hate Turns Deadly -- In Medford Oregon, residents hold community meetings
to raise awareness about the growing threat of hate activities after a lesbian
couple was murdered by a man who admits it was a hate crime. Schoolteachers
create innovative lesson plans to address the issue.
Not In Our Town Either - Bloomington, Illinois hasn't
experienced hate crime locally and its residents want to keep it that way. More than 500
people march to protest African American church burnings in the South. Nearly a
thousand people sign a pledge against intolerance and many go to Mississippi to
rebuild a church that had been burned. On the drive into town, visitors and
residents are greeted by an anti-bigotry "Not In Our Town" road sign. The Mayor
and police establish a Neighborhood Watch against hate violence. Police officers
wear Not In Our Town buttons to initiate discussion with the public.
When the Klan Comes to Town-- In the 1920s, Kokomo, Indiana was a stronghold of the
Ku Klux Klan. When the new KKK plans a recruitment rally, Kokomo says Not In Our
Town.
The mayor, community members and the local newspaper wrestle with First Amendment
issues. The town decides to hold a multicultural "Unity" rally on the same day as
the Klan's rally. Though few attend the KKK rally, the Unity picnic draws over 2,000
people and becomes an annual event.
Citizens and Police Face the Danger-- In Novato, California, grocery clerks chase
down a knife-wielding assailant who attacked a man of
Asian descent. Local police respond quickly, treating the incident as a racially motivated
hate crime, which turns out to be the case when the assailant later tells police he set out
"to go kill me a Chinaman." The community holds public meetings to discuss the incident
and organize to prevent future hate crimes.
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