Juneau, Alaska: Not In Our Town

The Juneau Human Rights Commission is taking a proactive stance on hate. In 2009, the coalition screened our 1995 documentary about Billings, Mont., Not In Our Town, which sparked a discussion about prejudice and discrimination. Since then, the seven-member commission has been working to begin a human rights coalition that includes ethnic and faith groups and social agencies.

 

“The thing we loved about the Not In Our Town model is groups within the community coming together to support those who don’t have as much power,” sad commission chair Mary-Claire Bernstein.

 

Bernstein, who taught multicultural education at the university and believes in the ability of the commission’s work to be much more than “window dressing,” said the mission of the coalition is to educate and be proactive. Specifically, the commission hopes this coalition will provide opportunities for the community to discuss issues, support the schools in anti-bullying measures, and to foster understanding of the city’s diverse population.

 

Juneau, with a population of approximately 30,000 residents, has a large Alaskan native and Filipino population. According to the Juneau Empire, Juneau has experienced acts of hatred and discrimination against particular ethnic groups and vandalism in the form of swastikas around town, including painted on the door of the Congregation Sukkat Shalom.

 

Inspired by how the people of Billings, Mont. came together to fight hate against several minority groups in their own town—namely, the Jewish and Native American community—the commission invited Not In Our Town Billings chair Eran Thompson to speak before the group in November.

 

“What’s interesting to me is that all our communities are unique and our problems are so the same,” said Thompson about his visit.

 

Bernstein said Thompson’s two-day visit attracted a sizable turnout. Thompson shared his expertise with this fledgling group on community building and prevention and response to hate incidents. Since 1995, Billings has witnessed a resurgence of white supremacist activity and Not In Our Town-Billings is continuing to fight hate. The Billings group recently organized a Summit on Hate, a video project, Martin Luther King Jr. activities, and a community photo shoot. 

 

Though still in its beginning stages, the Juneau coalition has held several meetings and is reaching out to local groups and has begun working with the school district.

 

In addition to the coalition, the commission has hosted a series for cultural awareness events called “I Am Juneau.” These events included potlucks, arts and crafts, music and dance, and exchanges of literature and history.

 

“Every group that participates is part of Juneau,” Bernstein said, and that these community gatherings acknowledge that “we have have a richness and that everyone here is equal.”