Me (JT) asking question about why Deaf people experiencing hate crime around the world and the lack of resources in America.

The last 72 hours has been an experience I’d never forget. Friday afternoon—expert panel discussion: effective community responses to hate and white nationalism along with audience question and answer sponsored by two Congress individuals, both are Democrats from District of Columbia and Maryland. Reps. Norton and Raskin. I grabbed the opportunity to ask a critical question that I’ve been waiting, and I felt proud to do it.

Inspired by Randy Blazak’s style, one of the expert panelists on Friday who was also my professor in hate crimes and bias and continue my duty to educate about hate crime in Deaf community. All these years, we meet again. Not only that, it was a learning, teaching, and making new meaning in my intellectual life.

After Teach-In on White Supremacy, Racism, Anti-Semitism & the Neo-Nazi Movement: A Joint Town Hall ended on Friday evening, and continue my civic duty to stand up against White Supremacy and hate groups at Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, the experience was astounding, thousands and thousands of people showed up as counter-protestors and I was proud to be part of the movement. All those lectures and presentations I’ve given about hate crime in academic classrooms, I had to be there.

When I hold American flag in my hand, it is a human right to live in hate-free climate and come to learn that stories is only unwritten until you have been given a part of chance to look up your own character, and those who nearly had to sell their souls who experienced hate is painful enough to be in existence. Hate is not an American value, and this feeling in my heart continuously feels the strain.

Holding American flag deeps within my soul I am standing against hate. What if I keep something good from happening? American flag is a democracy, and we all should not fear hate. It has a whole new meaning this side of overcoming culture of fear.

It is said in Buddhism that “destiny is not set, but is created and determined by ourselves.”

Standing front of White House with an American flag in my hand, every moment is unstoppable and nothing can take away from me. Anyone can commit a hate crime; all that’s required with oppressive ingredients. Hate crime, hate speech, hate literature does not belong anywhere.

Be a mentor to others around you. Change that. Change yourself. Do not let the state of hate control your life. Do not let the society control the upper hand and the majority of counter-protestors in Washington, D.C. stood and won. White Supremacists lost. They gave up. I was proud to be part of this to overcome the state of hate.

-JT

Copyright © 2018 Jason Tozier

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