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A group of 20 county residents says Sussex County is in need of a wakeup call to combat intolerance.
The Coalition for Tolerance and Justice formed over the past few months to seek tolerance respect and acceptance for all people in Sussex County.
“Right now, this county is in a sleeping mode,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hawtof, vice president of the new coalition. “We might see it, but we don’t realize how much intolerance there is out there.”
“Go into any bar in Sussex County that isn’t gay and listen to them talk about gays and homosexuals - very intolerant,” said Hawtof, a physician with a family practice in Millsboro.
According to a recent press release, the coalition grew from discussions last spring by several Christians and Jews concerned about anti-Semitic incidents in the community. “The group grew to include Jews, Muslims, Christians and other persons of good will concerned for tolerance,” the release says.
The group began meeting monthly in May and identified its primary concerns as tolerance in society and justice for those subject to religious and other intolerance.
The group says it has received several reports of incidents of religious intolerance and has supported the victims. Its president, the Rev. Mark Harris said, “We feel that Sussex County is undergoing a major expansion, and we want to be a part of making this a safe place for everyone who lives here.”
One of the main goals for the group will be to document instances of intolerance.
“Since many acts of intolerance are not necessarily illegal, there is not necessarily a criminal report,” Hawtof said. “We want to be a group where people can document acts of intolerance.”
Hawtof said the coalition itself, with 20 members, is a diverse group of people. “Right now, we have eight different Christian denominations as well as Muslim and Jewish members,” Hawtof said. “We are made up of anyone who wants to see more tolerance in their community. It is amazing to be a part of. We’ve seen how it changes even our own lives. Some of the stories we hear are incredible.”
The press release says the coalition has three main goals: “To document acts of intolerance in our community, to stand with those who have been subjected to intolerance so that they are not alone, and to educate the community about different beliefs and cultures to foster greater understanding.”
For more information, call the coalition at (302) 983-2759
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