You are invited to join the Simon Wiesenthal Center and key Illinois legislators

Please join the Simon Wiesenthal Center and key legislators for a brief press statement and photo of solidarity

State Capitol South Rotunda 11:00am Thursday, February 14th
Reception Wednesday, February 13th 5:30 – 7:30 PM Sangamo Club 227 E Adams St. Springfield, IL 62701

The Simon Wiesenthal Center – an international human rights organization inspired by history’s most acclaimed Nazi hunter, Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal – has brought the powerful Holocaust exhibition The Courage to Remember to the State Capitol Rotunda.

The exhibition is educating visitors from across our state about the lessons of the Holocaust and reminding us all of the need to fight modern day hate in all its forms. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which runs the innovative Museum of Tolerance, and Illinois legislators are partnering to promote increased tolerance education in Illinois.


This cause has never been more important. The FBI reports hate crimes are up 17% in the past year, with a 16% increase in hate crimes targeting African-Americans and 60% of all hate crimes now based on race. There has been a 23% increase in hate crimes based on religion with a 37% increase in anti-Jewish offenses. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports 34 active hate groups operating in Illinois – and every region of our state is experiencing shocking incidents of hate targeting nearly every minority group.

Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Midwest Regional Director, Alison Pure-Slovin, will be providing the invocation at the beginning of the Illinois House of Representatives’ Thursday, February 14th session.

Please join the Simon Wiesenthal Center and key legislators for a brief press statement and photo of solidarity at 11:00 AM in the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday, February 14th.

Please look for the white banner which says “We Support Tolerance Education in Illinois” near The Courage to Remember exhibit.

We will have a photographer available to provide images for social media and constituent newsletters.

State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representatives Thaddeus Jones and Mark Kalish also invite you to a reception on Thursday, February 13th where you can meet key leaders in the global fight against bigotry and hate crimes, including ex-Neo Nazi, T.M. Garret, and learn about next steps in tolerance education in Illinois.

Reception:
Wednesday, February 13th
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Hosted by State Representative Mark Kalish and Thaddeus Jones and State Senator Ram Villivalam

Sangamo Club
227 E Adams St.
Springfield, IL 62701

For more information or to RSVP:
contact Ariel Halpern
312-981-0105
swcmidwest@wiesenthal.com


Thank you for standing with the Simon Wiesenthal Center for tolerance and justice.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).