Global Project Against Hate & Extremism (GPAHE)
- This is a discussion of an interview on 2024-08-22 with Heidi Beirich,[1] co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Global Project Against Hate & Extremism (GPAHE).[2] After the interview, at most 29 minutes from it will be broadcasted the following Tuesday as Radio Active Magazine[3] on KKFI. And a video of it will be posted here then followed a few days later by a 29:00 mm:ss audio file prepared for distribution as the "Media & Democracy" show[4] syndicated for the Pacifica Radio[5] Network of over 200 community radio stations.[6]
- It is posted here to invite others to contribute other perspectives, subject to the Wikimedia rules of writing from a neutral point of view citing credible sources[7] and treating others with respect.[8]
Heidi Beirich,[1] co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Global Project Against Hate & Extremism (GPAHE)[2] discusses their work. This includes what they and others are doing to reduce political polarization and violence and what individuals and governments can do to combat these threats.
Beirich has authored multiple publications on issues related to hate and extremism. This includes co-editing (2008) Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction (University of Texas Press)[9] and testifying on "Alarming Incidents of White Supremacy in the Military – How to Stop It?" 2020-02-11 before the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives.[10]
She said that many teenagers, especially teenage males with difficult home lives, get recruited online into a violent extremist ideology. Some are encouraged to become a "lone wolf" extremist like Timothy McVeigh, who committed the Oklahoma City bombing 1995-04-19. She mentioned the neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Division, which has been connected to multiple murders.
In addition to teenagers, many current military and law enforcement personnel are recruited into neo-Nazi groups. Veterans are often recruited as they are leaving the military; this is a particularly vulnerable time for many.
She said the military should be doing more. Lloyd Austin, the current US Secretary of Defense, became aware of this as a Lt. Col. and wanted to do something about it at Secretary of Defense. However, Republicans in the US Congress have explicitly zeroed out his budget to prevent him from doing anything to minimize the problem with violent extremists in the US military.
When asked what concerned parents or community members should do to minimize the risks of teenagers in their community involving themselves in extremist violence, she recommended PERIL, the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab,[11] headed by Professor Cynthia Miller-Idriss[12] at American University: They are "Equipping communities with tools for change", including resources for, parents & caregivers, government and policymakers, faith leaders & small businesses, educators & mental health counselors, community members, and victims & survivors.
Beirich
[edit | edit source]Heidi Beirich earned a doctorate in political science from Purdue and worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center from 1999 until she left to found the Global Project Against Hate & Extremism[2] in 2020.
She is interviewed by Karl Brooks[13] and Spencer Graves.[14]
The threat
[edit | edit source]Internet company executives have knowingly increased political polarization and violence including the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar, because doing otherwise might have reduced their profits. Documentation of this is summarized in Category:Media reform to improve democracy.
Discussion
[edit | edit source]- [Interested readers are invite to comment here, subject to the Wikimedia rules of writing from a neutral point of view citing credible sources[7] and treating others with respect.[8]]
Notes
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Heidi Beirich, Wikidata Q128844587
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, Wikidata Q125952435
- ↑ Radio Active Magazine, Presenter: Spencer Graves, KKFI, Wikidata Q57451712
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ↑ Media & Democracy, Director: Spencer Graves, Pacifica Radio, Wikidata Q127839818
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ↑ Pacifica Radio, Wikidata Q2045587
- ↑ List of Pacifica Radio stations and affiliates, Wikidata Q6593294
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The rules of writing from a neutral point of view citing credible sources may not be enforced on other parts of Wikiversity. However, they can facilitate dialog between people with dramatically different beliefs.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Wikiversity asks contributors to assume good faith, similar to Wikipedia. The rule in Wikinews is different: Contributors there are asked to "Don't assume things; be skeptical about everything." That's wise. However, we should still treat others with respect while being skeptical.
- ↑ Hague et al.(2008).
- ↑ Beirich (2020).
- ↑ Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab, Wikidata Q129673094
- ↑ Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Wikidata Q110463618
- ↑ Karl Boyd Brooks, Wikidata Q128214400
- ↑ Spencer Graves, Wikidata Q56452480
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Heidi Beirich (11 February 2020), before the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives (PDF), United States Congress, Wikidata Q129350693
- Euan Hague, Heidi Beirich, and Edward H. Sebesta, ed (2008). Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction (in en). University of Texas Press. Wikidata Q129348759. ISBN 978-0-292-71837-1.