TRR photo by Krista Gromalski Introducing the video "Stop the Hate with Harmony" to the audience in the Delaware Valley High School auditorium is Rosanne La Russ Kolberg, organizer of the newly formed Tri-State Unity Coalition. (Click for larger image)

By KRISTA GROMALSKI

WESTFALL TOWNSHIP -- With posters reading "Teach Tolerance" and "Peace Comes Hand in Hand" in the background, the newly formed Tri-State Unity Coalition, in the auditorium of Delaware Valley High School (DV) on October 25, opened its first official meeting since its inception earlier this month.

In an effort to generate ideas and provide direction to the community in the face of hate crimes, the coalition showed the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (HRC) video "Stop the Hate with Harmony." Present in the audience were all three Pike County Commissioners, students, teachers, local clergy and two DV school board members.

"Most of us are doing good things," said Rosanne La Russ Kolberg, organizer of PA's 68th Unity Coalition, who urged the assembly to spread the word and get involved.

The video, which focused on real instances of hate crimes and hate group activities in PA as well as the solutions provided by existing Unity Coalitions, indicated that hate activity increases every year in the state. But, "For every hateful word there is a kind gesture," according to the HRC. "An equal and opposite reaction."

Kolberg said the new coalition can provide "a place to go" for community members who are feeling disconnected.

Coalition member and president of the DV Student Council, Danielle Bray, read a unity pledge and asked individuals and groups to sign the "call for human rights."

"[The group] is for kids, too," Bray said to her classmates in the audience. "We need to know what you can do and what you're willing to do." Her suggestions included candle light vigils, rallies or public meetings.

Bray said she and several other DV students will carpool to Keystone College on November 6 to attend the free student portion of the Holocaust Program "Visas for Life, Moral Courage During the Holocaust - The Story of Chiune Sugihara." Bray said the students will share what they learn with the coalition.

Members of the new coalition will also be carpooling to East Stroudsburg University on November 16 to attend the discussion "The Geography of Hate Crimes in PA" from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Quoting Ann Van Dyke of the HRC, Kolberg reminded the audience that a Unity Coalition is "like Teflon on a community -- hate can't stick here."

The Tri-State Unity Coalition's Steering Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Milford Methodist Church. The meeting is open to anyone who has an interest or an idea to share, Kolberg said.

The coalition can be reached at PO Box 752, Milford PA 18337. E-mail tristateunity@yahoo.com or visit www.geocities.com/tristateunity for more information.