Attorney General Platkin and Division on Civil Rights Announce Youth Competition to Combat Bias

TRENTON – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today the No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition as part of a statewide initiative to eliminate bias and discrimination in New Jersey. The competition, which will be led by DCR and will be coordinated in partnership with the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), is open to middle school and high school students to help empower young people to make changes in their communities.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Platkin announced the launch of No Hate in the Garden State, a statewide public awareness campaign. Supported by federal funds, No Hate in the Garden State is aimed at reversing the rise in bias incidents and crimes across New Jersey and encouraging increased reporting of bias incidents. Data from the State’s Bias Incident portal shows that elementary and secondary schools are now the locations in New Jersey where bias incidents most frequently occur.

In light of these trends, the No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition seeks to give young people a platform to fight bias in their communities. The competition is among a number of initiatives undertaken by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), DCR, and DCJ to combat youth bias.

“Every day our young people are exposed to hate. Our data shows that across the nation and in New Jersey, we are seeing a steady rise in reported bias incidents and crimes, particularly in school settings. This has to change,” said Attorney General Platkin. “When we launched the No Hate in the Garden State campaign earlier this year, I promised that we would not stand idly by while reports of bias incidents and crimes continued to rise. The No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition will give young people who are passionate about creating change an opportunity to shape their communities and build a future free of hate.”

“We know that many young people are all too familiar with the damaging effects of bias incidents on students, their schools, and their communities. That’s why it’s critical that they have a seat at the table in our conversations around combating bias in New Jersey, ”said Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights. “The No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition seeks to empower youth across the state to be part of the solution, and we look forward to partnering with students across the state in the ongoing fight against hate in our communities.”

“Ensuring that our communities are free from bias incidents is a priority that deserves the efforts of all. By standing together to protect our young people from hatred, and by making them a part of the conversation, we show them the strength of our State,” said J. Stephen Ferketic, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. “This competition demonstrates our commitment to our youth and to eradicating hate from our State.”

The No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition invites students to collaborate to create projects or events designed to educate New Jerseyans on how to combat bias in their communities. Each participating group must create an event or project relating to the theme of standing up to hate or celebrating New Jersey’s diversity.

As part of the competition, students are encouraged to use their creativity to develop projects. Examples of potential projects include a social media awareness campaign, open mic night, cultural heritage celebration, educational workshops, a podcast, art work or an exhibition.

By participating in the competition, students will increase their awareness of civil rights, develop leadership skills, and gain an understanding of New Jersey’s civil rights laws through a series of interactive virtual trainings, led by DCR.

Students must be New Jersey residents in grades 6 through 12 to participate. Project proposals are due by January 13, 2025. For more information visit our competition website or email communityrelations@njcivilrights.gov.

The No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition is the latest initiative launched by OAG, DCR, and DCJ to combat bias and bias-based harassment in New Jersey, particularly harassment in K-12 schools. DCR’s Youth Ambassador Program trains high school students to help eliminate bias and discrimination in their communities. Earlier this year, DCR launched the Community Peacemaker Collaborative, an initiative to train local community members – including students – to de-escalate conflict in response to bias incidents. Over the past two years, Attorney General Platkin and DCR have also worked with the New Jersey Department of Education and with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to issue guidance on preventing, addressing, and responding to bias incidents in K-12 schools, as well as on college and university campuses. In addition, DCR offers trainings on how to effectively prevent, address, and respond to bias incidents to administrators and educators in K-12 schools.

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The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) works to prevent, eliminate, and remedy discrimination and bias-based harassment in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation throughout New Jersey. DCR enforces the Law Against Discrimination, the New Jersey Family Leave Act, and the Fair Chance in Housing Act.

To find out more information or to file a complaint, go to www.njcivilrights.gov.

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