Randolph forum to focus on reducing hate

RANDOLPH — Federal and state prosecutors and the Rutland NAACP want Vermont residents to know how they can report incidents of bias to police and will host a forum in Randolph to talk about ways to reduce hate in the community.

The Randolph meeting, the fourth in series of Hate-Free Vermont forums held around the state since 2019, is co-organized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont, the Vermont State Attorney General’s Office and the Rutland chapter of the NAACP. It will bring policymakers and the public together “for productive and difficult conversations” that aim “to reduce animus, discord and misunderstandings” in the community, the U.S Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

“Many community members have told us they do not feel comfortable reporting bias incidents to the police or feel that is not an effective option,” Etan Nasreddin-Longo, the forum’s co-facilitator, said in the release. 

The forum, to be held at Randolph Union Middle/High School, 15 Forest St, and remotely on May 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will also answer the public’s questions about “what additional options for reporting and addressing harm and conflict already exist in your community” and ask “what new or improved options would you like to see,” Nasreddin-Longo said.

Previous Hate-Free Vermont forums have been held in Rutland, Bennington and Franklin County, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Vermont.

Registration for the remote option is online at: bit.ly/HateFreeRandolph. 

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