Truth About Hate Assembly Tackles Bullying

Jack Zhang ‘14
EE News Editor

Hate. A word that many people can connect to. Perhaps when you were little you were been told it was a “very strong word.” Perhaps you were told that in a perfect world, it should not happen. Yet it occurs every day and many teens are victims of hate crimes. To learn about this phenomenon on Wednesday October 25th, the juniors went to the Truth about Hate assembly hosted by the Anti Defamation League.

Going in, many people treated it as a day off of school while others joked about using the “Open Mic” period as an opportunity to make others laugh. After all, what was there about hate that they did not already know? However, afterwards there was a profound change in everyone who attended.

To start off, peer leaders introduced how discrimination and acts of hate occur locally. They told stories of kids in our own neighborhoods being the victims of hate. Using a skit, they demonstrated how a simple stereotype such as “Girls can’t play sports” meant others can be judged before they get to prove themselves. Later this stereotype changed from a harmless notion to isolation and exclusion.

A documentary showed how there are hate crimes in the United States every year. Young people that became neo-nazis, a death-like rivalry about ethnicity, and gay haters were all part of the conflict. Although each of these groups maintained that there was “nothing wrong” with their point of view, and they were just “expressing their opinion,” once they met real-life victims, they soon changed their minds. A victim from the Holocaust, deaths of fellow classmates, and an openly gay teenager that was lynched, reminded students that humans can be cruel – but also that even the most close minded individuals can change.

In fact, one of the guest speakers, Darryl, had his own special reason to be there. When he was in school, his mother dressed him up in nice clothes to prevent him from participating in the urban city “hate gangs.” However, this plan backfired and caused others to bully him. Darryl described the moment when he tried to play basketball, and he was denied based on his appearance. The bullying escalated into violence, and soon it wasn’t even certain he would live.

The boys from the basketball court came over, tied him up, and swung him on a chain. Darryl was too down put to resist. He landed headfirst on the pavement and broke his neck. He was in a coma for two days. “That’s why I drove two hours to come down here today,” he says.

After the testimonial from Darryl, student leaders identified each of the levels of hate. From bias, which dehumanizes others, to discrimination, to violence, and genocide. When asking whether bias and discrimination were in Trumbull High, almost every person raised their hands high. “If we already have these base levels, what is to stop it from escalating to something more?”

Perhaps one of the greatest contributors of hate was silence. Not doing anything when you see it occur. A peer leader described how his younger cousin was alienated and never fit in. When he was at school, he was berated by his classmates for his music tastes. He committed suicide days later. “I now wish I stood up and said something. Don’t be silent when it occurs,” he said.

Inspired by other’s stories, many students lined up to share at the “Open Mic” period. Classmates, friends, and people you wouldn’t expect all talked about how they were victims of hate. These stories were different but equally as passionate. Students told stories about cyber bullying, physical abuse, and losing a best friend. When touched by a story, whole audiences would show their support by getting up and clapping.

Numerous people, who were victims of hate, recognized the feeling of being on the edge. One student, who was close to committing suicide himself told the audience, “Whatever you do, don’t pick up that razor. It will be the worst decision of your life. You will get through it.”

There was also a positive side to all of this. Many described how friends and family were able to help them get through it.
Dan Marazita talked about how one night, he was ready to do it. He had had enough. But then his younger brother came into his room and gave him a hug.

“He had autism, my mother told me that [autistic kids] weren’t capable of showing empathy. She was wrong. It was enough to make me stop and think about my life and reminded me that there was still more to live for,” said Marazita.

Perhaps you didn’t know everyone, perhaps some were only people you’ve seen in the halls, but people came out with a sense of compassion and a willingness to change the school environment.

As Darryl said, “You will see your school change in the next few weeks. People may be more aware. You may reach out to someone you might not know. In the next few weeks, like everything else, it might fade. But if you can make a difference in just one person’s life, it will be worth it.”

Hate: an Inconvenient Truth. As Sam Carley once said “The Truth about Hate is we hate the truth.” It doesn’t have to be that way, but the change starts with us. As the famous Ghandi quote goes “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”