The Forsythe Family Program on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs and School of Global Integrative Studies have teamed up to curate a week of events focusing on preventing violence and extremism around the globe and in our own communities. This vital work is supported by an Ignition Grant from Together We Remember, a grassroots truth and reconciliation organization that transforms remembrance of the past into a powerful movement for peace in the present.
From April 12 to 16, 2021, partners from across our campus, community, and world will gather to try to understand why violence and extremism happen, and to reflect on what we can do to stop violence and extremism. We will hear from peace activists from Israel and Palestine, a scholar whose work is at the cutting edge of research on American militancy, practitioners working to contain and de-escalate burgeoning conflicts, and students who have been affected by these issues. We will end the week with an impactful name-reading vigil to commemorate those who have lost their lives to genocide and acts of hate. Through these events, we'll further establish the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a community that understands the lasting cost of violence and extremism and prioritizes its prevention.
Reconciliation, Not Revenge: A Dialogue Meeting with the Parents Circle Families Forum | Monday, April 12 from 10:00-11:30 am
The Parents Circle Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian NGO founded by people who lost an immediate family member in the conflict. Its mission is to work towards the end of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, towards political agreement, and to spread their framework of conflict resolution to conflict-riven societies around the globe. In this dialogue meeting, two Parents Circle Families Forum members-- one Israeli and one Palestinian-- share their stories of bereavement and explain why they have chosen to walk a path of reconciliation rather than revenge. They then talk about their organization's work around the world, and end the session with time for questions and answers.
To register to join us for this event, head to go.unl.edu/parentscircle.
Special Edition Dish It Up: Reverberations of Radicalization | Tuesday, April 13 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm
Dish It Up is a safe space for students, staff, and faculty to share their personal views and experiences, engage in discussion, and learn from others. This Special Edition Dish It Up will give students the change to talk about how radicalization, echo chambers, misinformation, conspiracy theories and extremist ideologies impact them. The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Max Mueller, a theorist and historian of race and religion in American history who has extensive experience moderating sensitive discussions.
To register to join us for this event, head to go.unl.edu/dish-it-up-2021
Research Colloquium with Dr. Kanisha Bond | Wednesday, April 14 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Dr. Kanisha Bond is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Binghamton University and a leading scholar of political mobilization and militancy in the United States. In this colloquium, she will speak about two complimentary, ongoing research projects: one on mobilization and militancy on the American left, and another on mobilization and militancy on the American right.
To register to join us for this event, head to go.unl.edu/kbond.
Global Café: Careers in Conflict Prevention with USAID | Thursday, April 15 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Rob Horvath, Deputy Director of the Center for Conflict and Violence Prevention at USAID, will present on USAID's work preventing conflict and violence around the globe. Mr. Horvath works on USAID's dedicated team for technical and analytical expertise on peacebuilding, conflict, and violence prevention. In this role, he and his teammates respond to complex crises and opportunities to support countries on the road to self-reliance, and provide expert advice and services addressing conflict, communal violence, political transitions, stabilization, and extremism. This talk will allow students to learn about the work of this agency, as well as about career opportunities in the field of conflict prevention.
To register to join us for this event, head to go.unl.edu/usaid.
Together We Remember Virtual Vigil | Friday, April 16 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm
We will hold a virtual vigil to commemorate people who were murdered in genocides and acts of hate. We will use Together We Remember's model of commemoration through name reading. Participants will sign up in advance to either attend the vigil or to read a person's name, and deliver a few very brief remarks about that person. This event will honor the memories of those who lost their lives to extremist violence, and promote the goal of making our campus community a place where consciousness of the tragedies and injustices of our past inspire us to promote human rights for all people today.
To register to join us for this event, head to go.unl.edu/vigil.
Special thanks to our campus and community partners in promoting these events: Harris Center for Judaic Studies, Department of Political Science, Department of Sociology, Department of Communications Studies, Department of History, Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services, UNL Global Strategies, UNL Bosnian American Student Alliance, UNL Medical Students United with Neighbors Across America, UNL Students for Human Rights, and Lincoln Commission on Human Rights.
More details at: https://humanrights.unl.edu/violence-and-extremism-prevention-week-2021