Philanthropy’s Role in Combatting Extremism and White Supremacy

Across the country and throughout the world over the last few years there has been a documented  increase in hate crimes and extremist views. Massachusetts is perceived as a liberal and inclusive state, however research shows that, over the past two years, extremist activities, including increased threats to the LGBTQ+ community, antisemitic incidents, and white supremacist actions and propaganda, are no lower than national trends.

Here are some startling statistics about extremism and white supremacy in MA:

• As noted in Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, in 2022, the Center on Extremism (COE) documented the highest number of antisemitic incidents since tabulation began in 1979, with more than 3,697 acts of assault, vandalism and harassment nationwide, a 36% increase from 2021. Massachusetts had the sixth-highest number of reported antisemitic incidents in 2022, with 152.
• In 2022, ADL documented 465 instances of white supremacist propaganda distribution across the state, an increase of 71% from 2021 (272).1

Philanthropy has a growing understanding and recognition of the systems and thinking within our society that perpetuate injustices, including, but not limited to extremism and white supremacy. At the same time, funding to combat extremism remains low.

Join us for an important and timely conversation with Peggy Shukur, Vice President, East Division of  Anti-Defamation League New England, and Michael A. Curry, President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and Member, National Board of Directors, NAACP, as they discuss the context around the rise in extremism over recent years, gaps in efforts to stem this rise, and what philanthropy can do to address the alarming rise in extremism and white supremacy thinking and action. The conversation will be moderated by Imari K. Paris Jeffries, the President and CEO of Embrace Boston.

1 Hate in the Bay State: Extremism & Antisemitism in Massachusetts, 2021-2022 https://www.adl.org/resources/report/hate-bay-state-extremism-antisemitism-massachusetts-2021-2022