'Stand Up To Hate Play Date' Unites Community Against Racism

CHICAGO, IL — A community event in West Town Thursday evening united people of all ages against racism. The "Stand Up To Hate Play Date" was organized after a family received an anonymous racist letter that targeted their nanny. The event was held at Talcott Playground on West Ohio Street.

One of the event's organizers, Ferrai Pickett, said she was "blown away" by all the community support and media coverage.

"The event was amazing, it was incredible to watch the children play and the adults mingle," said Pickett, a nanny working in West Town. "The feeling was the complete opposite of how I felt when I first heard about the letter."

Pickett said the event aimed to show children that it's important to take a stand against bullying, and embrace "diversity and unity."

The mother who received the letter, Heather DeJonker, said she was shocked, upset, and a bit scared. DeJonker and another mother, Maria Ippolito, both employ Pickett to take care of their children. After they took the letter to police, all three women decided it was important to rally the community against such hate.

"It was very upsetting to all of us, and while we were deeply hurt, we also knew that silence was not an option," the women posted to the event's Facebook page.

During the play date, people of all ages wrote notes and formed them into links. Attendees called it a "love chain" and hung it on the playground's fence.

Photos courtesy of Ferrai Pickett