Hating To Hate: Ramapo-Indian Hills Kids Combat Discrimination

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ —Students at Ramapo and Indian Hills high schools — which serve Wyckoff, Oakland, and Franklin Lakes — are getting unique opportunities to deepen their understanding of antisemitism and racism, and raise their awareness of hate crimes and bias incidents.

They've been enjoying presentations facilitated by “Better Together.”

The Better Together initiative, a collaborative between Andrea Winograd of the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education and Virginia Norfleet of the Haverstraw African American Connection, combats racism, antisemitism, and all forms of hate through community building, conflict resolution, and critical dialogue.

School-wide presentations in school auditoriums, featuring PowerPoint presentations and Q&A, were held March 7 and 8 for the entire student body in both schools.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, in the three months following the attack in Israel on Oct. 7, and subsequent eruption of conflict between Israel and Gaza, U.S. antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed, reaching a total of 3,291 incidents between Oct. 7 and Jan. 7. This represents a 361 percent increase compared to the same period one year prior.

“These presentations provided students with valuable insights into the historical context and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism and other vile hate crimes,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. James C. Baker. “I appreciate how Andrea and Virginia held open discussions and encouraged reflection on the importance of tolerance, empathy, and solidarity.”

Through knowledge and awareness, Better Together empowers students to become agents of change in the communities, serving as advocates for inclusivity and justice.

“We have to conduct ourselves as one. When we marginalize one person, we marginalize all of us,” said Ramapo Principal Travis Smith. “By fostering a culture of inclusivity, understanding, and respect, we empower our students to reject hate in all its forms and embrace the richness of diversity."

Better Together created a safe space for students to explore complex issues surrounding hate, while also emphasizing the shared humanity that unites us all.

“By joining together and engaging in meaningful conversations, we can build a more compassionate and inclusive world,” said Indian Hills Principal Dr. Gregory Vacca. “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with Better Together to combat hate and foster mutual understanding.”

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office released a report a week ago Friday listing the number of bias incidents in each town in the Garden State, and also tallying them up so far this year.

In Bergen County, according to the report, 44 legitimate incidents of hateful acts or language against a particular racial, ethnic, or religious group were reported so far in 2024.

Twenty-four of the incidents were against Jews, the Attorney General's Office reported. Ten were against the Black population, four were anti-Muslim, three were anti-Asian, and two were anti-gay (male) and one was anti-Lesbian. One was anti-white. The rest were against multiple groups.

Among the recent incidents in Bergen County, a swastika was found in a bathroom at Ramapo High School.

As any student of history knows, a rise in hate crimes can signal a coming rise in violence. And such incidents aren't far in the past. Five years ago, five people, including a mother of three, were killed near a Kosher grocery store in Jersey City in an antisemitic shooting spree.

The state announced on Tuesday a new program to combat hateful rhetoric, "the Community Peacemaker Collaborative," a new initiative designed to respond to the rise in bias and hate in New Jersey. The state's Community Relations Unit has received a $347,000, four-year federal grant through the United States Department of Justice’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Program to fund the initiative.

Read more about bias crimes in Bergen County here.