This week marks the one year anniversary of the insurrection on our nation’s Capitol. To many, the shocking images of violence and barbarism were surreal. The process of ratifying the 2020 election of Joe Biden by our nation’s lawmakers inside the Capitol building came to a screeching halt and they were escorted to safety as rioters breached the building to forcibly stop the process of Democracy as we know it.

While the attempt was unsuccessful, the growth of new movements of hate were evident. One of those groups was the white nationalist group, the Proud Boys.

15 were charged in the January 6th riot.

Over the past year the Proud Boys have re-emerged conducting several actions across the country. Most recently - right here on Long Island with marches in Patchogue, Bayshore and the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the village of Rockville Centre.

For this special WLIW-FM program, Julian Phillips is joined by U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice, Rena Riback of the Anti-Racism Project, and Rabbi Michael Cohen to form a panel of leaders, experts and grass roots organizers who have committed themselves to confront and deal with hate. They will examine issues including the activities of the Proud Boys and manifestations of antisemitism, racism and extremism on Long Island.

For this special WLIW-FM program, Julian Phillips is joined by U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice, Rena Riback of the Anti-Racism Project, and Rabbi Michael Cohen to form a panel of leaders, experts and grass roots organizers who have committed themselves to confront and deal with hate. They will examine issues including the activities of the Proud Boys and manifestations of antisemitism, racism and extremism on Long Island.

Listen live on Thursday, January 6th at 7pm and Saturday, January 8th at 6:30pm on 88.3 WLIW-FM, wliw.org/radio, radio streaming apps, and smart speakers. Or find Exploring Hate wherever you get your podcasts.

Exploring Hate on Eastern Long Island is a special WLIW-FM 30-minute program and part of “Exploring Hate,” a reporting initiative from The WNET Group on antisemitism, racism and extremism. Host Julian Phillips moderates a panel of experts who have devoted their careers to addressing the issues of hate on Long Island and their on-going efforts to eradicate this multi-faceted dilemma.

This special broadcast examines some of the deep-seated roots of hate which exist on Eastern Long Island—but more importantly shows why hate is everybody’s problem. The goal during this 30-minute panel and expanded discussion is to motivate the listener to become an active participant in the fight against hate, to make Eastern Long Island a better place to live and work.

The distinguished group of panelists include: Eric Post, LI Regional Director, American Jewish Committee; Elaine Gross, Executive Director, Erase Racism; William Kiley, retired Deputy Chief Suffolk County Police Department and children’s book author; Chaplain Sanaa Nadim, Stony Brook Interfaith Center, and Frank Meeink, former White Supremacist, Skinhead and gang member.

Additional resources and information:

American Jewish Committee

www.ajc.org

longisland@ajc.org

Erase Racism

www.eraseracism.org

Stony Brook Interfaith Center

sanaa.nadim@stonybrook.edu

Frank Meeink

www.frankmeeink.com

William Kiley

authorbillkiley@gmail.com

Leadership support for Exploring Hate is provided by the Sylvia A. and Simon B. Poyta Programming Endowment to Fight Antisemitism, with additional major funding from The Peter G. Peterson and Joan Ganz Cooney Fund and Patti Askwith Kenner. Additional support is provided by Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Nancy and Morris Offit and Judy and Josh Weston.