Amid rising hate crimes in Los Angeles, the L.A. Sentinel, in partnership with Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE), hosted a vital two-day dialogue on Dec. 12 and 13.
The virtual sessions aimed to arm communities with strategies to foster resilience, promote understanding across diverse backgrounds, and acquaint attendees with options to report hate crimes.
Day one, titled “Stop the Hate: An Interfaith Dialogue,” moderated by FACE President/CEO Hyepin Im, featured Pastor Gary Bernard Williams, Rabbi Robin Rodolsky, Muslim Professor Najeeba Syeed, and Buddhist Chaplain Mary Stancavage sharing insights from their faith traditions. They emphasized compassion and informed responses to hate incidents.
“We must approach hate with love and wisdom,” Pastor Williams stressed, advocating for a deeper understanding to heal divisions. Rabbi Rodolsky added, “That which is hateful to yourself, do not do to another,” highlighting empathy’s role in communal healing.
Chaplain Stancavage celebrated the event’s diversity, remarking on the “mosaic of individuals” contributing to societal harmony.
The second day’s session, “Stop the Hate: How to Report,” guided by Sentinel Managing Editor Cora Jackson-Fossett, shifted focus to practical responses. Gilbert Zavala and Yolanda Anguiano from 211 LA detailed essential steps for addressing hate acts.