Family-friendly 'Think Green Locally' event set for April 21 in Montague

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) The Year in Hate & Extremism 2021 report, hate and antigovernment extremism have gone mainstream, infecting the national and political dialogue. The report identified 733 hate and 488 anti-government groups actively operating across the U.S.—a decrease from the 838 and 566 documented in 2020 and the record-high 1,020 in 2018.

With far-right extremists finding safe haven in online networks, the number of documented active groups has declined for a third year; however, hate and extremism has not diminished. Instead, it has coalesced into a broader movement that is both threatening democracy and embracing violence as a means to achieve white supremacist goals.

The report reveals the threat of extremist activity has grown.

The report provides a wide range of forward-looking policy recommendations designed to defend and strengthen democratic institutions and build community resilience. Central to addressing the threat is a commitment to whole of government, long-term initiatives to counter racism, antigovernment extremism and hate groups in America include such recommendations to lawmakers and citizens as:

• Speaking out against hate, racism, extremism and attacks on voting and democratic institutions.
• Enforcing current laws against private militias and political intimidation.
• Protecting every citizen’s right to vote.
• Holding planners and perpetrators of the Jan.  6 attack – and those who inspired their acts – accountable, with consequences.
• Improving government coordination and response to domestic extremism.
• Confronting white supremacy and extremism among active-duty military and veterans.
• Funding prevention and education initiatives to steer individuals away from hate and extremism.
• Making tech and social media companies more accountable and transparent to promote online safety

The report also documents the far-right’s move to livestreaming as the preferred tool for organizing, fundraising and spreading propaganda. The trend, driven in part by their deplatforming from more mainstream platforms, has shown the resilience of online hate. Hard-right extremists continue to raise money and spread propaganda online even as their outreach becomes more diffuse and harder to capture.

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) is hosting "Think Green Locally: Together We Make a Difference!" from 5-8 p.m., Thursday April 21, at North Grove Brewers in Montague,  to kick off Earth Day 2022 as part of the White Lake area’s “Spring Into Wanderland” event.

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) is hosting "Think Green Locally: Together We Make a Difference!" at North Grove Brewers in Montague, Thursday April 21, 5-8 PM, to kick off Earth Day 2022 as part of the White Lake area’s Spring Into Wanderland event.

This family-friendly community event (outside if weather is good, inside if not) will feature entertainment by Tommy Foster.

Consumers Energy’s electric vehicle expert will showcase and answer questions about electric vehicles (EVs), with EVs to view.

There will also be information, exhibits, drawings, books, and kids' activities.

Partners include the White Lake Area Climate Action Council, Muskegon Area District Library Montague Branch, White Lake Community Library, Book Nook & Java Shop, Waggle Dance Honeybees, Consumers Energy, West Michigan Clean Air Coalition, the Muskegon County Environmental Coordinating Council, Muskegon Conservation District, and Weesies Brothers Garden Centers & Landscaping.

For more information on the event, visit https://wmeac.org/event/think-green-locally/ or contact Tanya Cabala, Lakeshore Outreach Organizer at tcabala@wmeac.org or (231) 798-5196.

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) (www.wmeac.org) has been the preeminent resource for environmental education and advocacy since 1968, focused on building sustainable communities and protecting water resources.