From Hate to Hope: How NYC Youth Are Leading the Fight Against Discrimination
Hate to Hope Staten Island NYC Youth Fight Against Discrimination
On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, the Wagner College Holocaust Center held NYC’s largest “Youth Stand Up to Hate” day during Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. Hate to Hope Staten Island NYC Youth Fight Against Discrimination. The event brought together at least 2,000 people, including students from several New York City schools, educators, community leaders, special guests, and more at the St. George Theatre. The event aimed to encourage all of Staten Island’s youth to stand up to hate and served as a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.
Lori Weintrob, the director of the Wagner College Holocaust Center, said during the event, “We are here to stand united against hate and indifference in all its forms on the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The intimate stories of your neighbors — six Holocaust survivors — inspire courage. Listen to the words of these survivors as they are performed by Wagner College students. These survivors lived, but many members of their families are among the 6 million Jews who were murdered in six death camps and 400 concentration camps.”
District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said, “Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it but today, in recognition of Yom HaShoah, we made certain that thousands of young Staten Islanders were educated on the atrocities of the Holocaust while also celebrating five Staten Island educators for their commitment to promoting anti-bias and tolerance in the classroom.”
It is crucial that New York City youth stand up to hate of all kinds, and events like the “Youth Stand Up to Hate” day serve as a powerful reminder of this. In a city as diverse as New York, it is vital that young people learn to respect and celebrate differences in culture, race, ethnicity, and religion. By promoting anti-bias and tolerance in the classroom and beyond, educators and community leaders can instill in young people a sense of empathy and understanding towards others, and equip them with the tools needed to challenge hate and discrimination in all its forms. Ultimately, the youth of New York City has the power to create a more inclusive and accepting society, one where everyone can feel valued and safe.
During the commemoration event, students at Wagner College performed the original play, “Rising Up: Young Holocaust Heroes.” The musical was co-written by Weintrob, Theresa McCarthy, and Martin Moran, and directed by Mickey Tennenbaum, adjunct professor of theater at Wagner College, who is a child of Holocaust survivors. The play followed graduate student Tali, played by Molly Nemirow, who encounters six teenagers caught in war and genocide — Margot (“Tina” Jean-Louis), Hannah (Taitum Eddington), Egon (Viraj Shriwardhanker), Romi (Nicholas Nunez), Rachel (Caitlyn Efner) and Gabi (Leslie Baez).
Throughout the play, the six survivors shared experiences during the Holocaust using spoken words and songs. By the end of the storytelling, the graduate student wonders how youth can rise up and prevent something similar from happening again. It encouraged the crowd of youths to not turn away when there is hatred. The play concluded with the same motif throughout — singing, “Rise up, we are here to stay.”
Arthur Spielman, a Holocaust survivor, attended the event, as well as the families of the six survivors who are featured in the play. Awards were also presented by Wagner College Provost Tarshia Stanley to five educators who inspired thousands of youth with their commitment to anti-bias and Holocaust work.
“We now honor five heroes from our community who are committed to teaching the lessons of the Holocaust at a moment of rising racism, anti-Semitism, and prejudice. This type of work on the frontlines is essential,” said Stanley.
The Richmond County District Attorney’s Office and Hate Crimes Task Force is the lead sponsor of the event. The Arts-in-Education Live Performance Series of the St. George Theatre is sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center and Con Edison. Additionally, the UFT (United Federation of Teachers) and Chai Society of Wagner College provide their support.
