The second anniversary of the assault on the U.S. Capitol approaches with the new year, reminding us that it’s critical to help young people understand, contextualize and counter manipulative and harmful disinformation. And because online hate continues to function as a crisis-level threat to democracy, digital literacy and models to prevent and build resilience against extremism must be among contemporary solutions.
Polarization is toxic to democracy and limits us — as individuals, organizations and nations — in our ability to respond to the critical needs of today. A culture of dialogue creates opportunities to reach across our differences and to engage one another, which is crucial for strengthening democracy, especially in the face of growing authoritarianism. Embracing a national identity built on democratic values can help us recognize our shared humanity. These Learning for Justice resources can help build understanding to address the questions: What is dialogue across difference?
In the continuing fight for justice and the expansion of democracy, understanding intersecting movements to end oppression is imperative and inspiring. Those at the intersections of geography, gender, poverty and race, as LFJ Director Jalaya Lyles Dunn explains, “will determine the fate of our democracy,” and have often been the agents of change, as witnessed by the connections between the past and the present highlighted in the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Civil Rights Memorial Center.
May 25 marks one year since the murder of George Floyd, which sparked a pivotal groundswell of activism across the country. As we honor him and all those who have died at the hands of police, we must not waver in our fight against racism and police violence. It’s important that we all center the lived experiences of students and educators of color and support young activists who stand up against racial injustice. These resources help to critically examine anti-racist practices and provide tools to support youth leadership.
