Fighting Hate While Preserving Freedom Forum banner for the event on March 27, 2018

Fighting Hate While Preserving Freedom: A Best Practices Forum

Communities and college campuses across the country, including Rutgers, have navigated difficult issues surrounding freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and our nation has been tested in its responses to expressions of bigotry and intolerance. Dealing with these challenges calls for conversation about strategies for fighting back against hatred without infringing upon the right to free speech. On March 27, 2018, Rutgers presented a daylong symposium on its Livingston Campus focused on best practices in confronting hate at houses of worship, online, on campus, and in the broader community. Speakers included leaders in community building, conflict resolution, and civil rights.

Click below to watch each segment of the symposium and view event photos. See a full agenda and speaker biographies.

Welcoming Remarks

Hosted by John J. Farmer Jr., University Professor and Director of the Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience

Morning Keynote

"Combating Hate in Today's Homeland"

Jeh Johnson, Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security

Reactive Panel

Moderated by Russell Deyo, Former Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

Countering Hate Directed at Houses of Worship

Moderated by John Cohen, Executive Director of the Center for Critical Intelligence Studies

Afternoon Keynotes

"Responding to Hate With Love: How One Jewish Community Survived Neo-Nazi Cyberattacks"

Rabbi Francine Roston, Glacier Jewish Community/B’nai Shalom

"The Landscape of Intolerance: The National Perspective"

George Selim, Senior Vice President of Programs, Anti-Defamation League

Countering Hate Online and on Campus

Moderated by John Hoffman, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Rutgers

Countering Hate in the Community

Moderated by Ava Majlesi, Acting Director of the Rutgers Institute for Violence Prevention and Community Safety

Closing Remarks

Deba Dutta, Chancellor of Rutgers–New Brunswick


Event Photos

Click below to view selected photos from the symposium.

  • Professor John Farmer, center benefactor Paul Miller, and President Barchi talk before the symposium

    Center director and University Professor John Farmer, center benefactor Paul Miller, and President Barchi talk before the symposium.

  • Professor John Farmer welcomes attendees to the symposium

    University Professor John Farmer, director of the Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience, welcomes attendees.

  • Paul Miller with President Barchi

    Miller Center benefactor Paul Miller with President Barchi.

  • Eagleton Institute of Politics director Ruth Mandel offers opening remarks

    Eagleton Institute of Politics director Ruth Mandel offers opening remarks.

  • Jeh Johnson delivers the morning keynote address

    Jeh Johnson, former Secretary of Homeland Security, delivers the morning keynote address.

  • a woman in the audience listening to Jeh Johnson’s morning keynote

    An audience member and Rutgers student asks a question after Jeh Johnson’s morning keynote.

  • Deborah Poritz speaks alongside fellow panelists Paul Fishman, Ronald Chen, and Russell Deyo

    Former N.J. Chief Justice Deborah Poritz speaks alongside fellow panelists Paul Fishman, Ronald Chen, and Russell Deyo.

  • Former Chief Justice Deborah Poritz discusses case law

    Former Chief Justice Deborah Poritz discusses case law in regard to hate speech.

  • Devin Ellison and Gabrielle Dilenno present their research at the symposium

    Students Devin Ellison and Gabrielle Dilenno present their research on acts of hatred directed at houses of worship.

  • Mohammad Ali Chaudry speaks alongside fellow panelists Jared Maples and John Cohen

    Mohammad Ali Chaudry, president of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, speaks on hatred directed at houses of worship, alongside fellow panelists Jared Maples and John Cohen.

  • Rabbi Francine Roston is greeted by Paul Goldenberg and Mohammad Ali Chaudry

    Rabbi Francine Roston is greeted by Paul Goldenberg and Mohammad Ali Chaudry at the conclusion of her afternoon keynote.

  • Rabbi Francine Roston speaks with Miller Center benefactor Paul Miller

    Rabbi Francine Roston speaks with Miller Center benefactor Paul Miller.

  • President Barchi speaks with George Selim

    President Barchi speaks with George Selim, senior vice president of programs at the Anti-Defamation League, during a break.

  • Panelists Imam Khalid Latif, Kenneth Cop, Darren Baxley, Adnan Zulfiqar, and John Hoffman

    Panelists on countering hate online and on campus, from left: Imam Khalid Latif, Kenneth Cop, Darren Baxley, Adnan Zulfiqar, and John Hoffman.

  • Imam Khalid Latif addresses a member of the audience

    Imam Khalid Latif addresses a member of the audience.

  • Attorney General Gurbir Grewal speaking at the podium

    New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal presents an overview of efforts to counter hate in the New Jersey community.

  • Panelists Elie Honig, Sahar Aziz, Paul Goldenberg, Ryan Haygood, and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal

    Panelists on countering hate in the community, from left: Elie Honig, Sahar Aziz, Paul Goldenberg, Ryan Haygood, and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.

  • Chancellor Deba Dutta talking with Ava Majlesi

    Chancellor Deba Dutta talks with panel moderator Ava Majlesi, acting director of the Rutgers Institute for Violence Prevention and Community Safety.

  • Professor and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar Sahar Aziz speaking at the podium

    Professor and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar Sahar Aziz presents on countering hate in the community.

  • Professor John Farmer, center benefactor Paul Miller, and President Barchi talk before the symposium
    1/19
  • Professor John Farmer welcomes attendees to the symposium
    2/19
  • Paul Miller with President Barchi
    3/19
  • Eagleton Institute of Politics director Ruth Mandel offers opening remarks
    4/19
  • Jeh Johnson delivers the morning keynote address
    5/19
  • a woman in the audience listening to Jeh Johnson’s morning keynote
    6/19
  • Deborah Poritz speaks alongside fellow panelists Paul Fishman, Ronald Chen, and Russell Deyo
    7/19
  • Former Chief Justice Deborah Poritz discusses case law
    8/19
  • Devin Ellison and Gabrielle Dilenno present their research at the symposium
    9/19
  • Mohammad Ali Chaudry speaks alongside fellow panelists Jared Maples and John Cohen
    10/19
  • Rabbi Francine Roston is greeted by Paul Goldenberg and Mohammad Ali Chaudry
    11/19
  • Rabbi Francine Roston speaks with Miller Center benefactor Paul Miller
    12/19
  • President Barchi speaks with George Selim
    13/19
  • Panelists Imam Khalid Latif, Kenneth Cop, Darren Baxley, Adnan Zulfiqar, and John Hoffman
    14/19
  • Imam Khalid Latif addresses a member of the audience
    15/19
  • Attorney General Gurbir Grewal speaking at the podium
    16/19
  • Panelists Elie Honig, Sahar Aziz, Paul Goldenberg, Ryan Haygood, and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal
    17/19
  • Chancellor Deba Dutta talking with Ava Majlesi
    18/19
  • Professor and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar Sahar Aziz speaking at the podium
    19/19

Sponsors

The Fighting Hate While Preserving Freedom symposium was sponsored by the Office of the President and the Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience, and co-sponsored by the Chancellors of Rutgers University–Camden, Rutgers University–Newark, Rutgers University–New Brunswick, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.

Event Details

Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Rutgers Business School
Livingston Campus
Piscataway, NJ