`Erase the Hate' begins tomorrow

9/13/2003

More than 20 leaders of Toledo's civic, religious, and educational communities announced yesterday the start of the city's sixth annual “Erase the Hate” program, a series of programs designed to overcome prejudice and build respect.

During a news conference in the lobby of Government Center, the Rev. Larry Clark, Erase the Hate's co-chairman and executive director of Toledo Metropolitan Ministries, said the program “represents a positive, constructive programming effort to enhance the character of our collective culture and bring a new dimension of humanity, mutual respect, and general civility to our community.”

The first event on this year's calendar will be “Building Bridges to Understanding,” an interfaith gathering at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Sylvania's Temple-Congregation Shomer Emunim. The campaign will wind up with the musical Lazarus at Lourdes College Nov. 23.

A highlight of the series will be two lectures to be presented Sept. 26 by Sister Helen Prejean, the prominent death-penalty opponent and author of Dead Man Walking.

Here is a list of Erase-the-Hate events:

Thursday: Muslim-Catholic dialogue, 7:30 p.m., University of Toledo Student Union, Room 2582.

Friday: National Race Equality Day: An Evening of Diversity, 7 p.m., Owens-Illinois auditorium.

Sept. 26: Sister Helen Prejean lectures, 1:30 p.m., St. Ursula Academy, and 7:30 p.m., Franciscan Center at Lourdes College.

Sept. 28: “Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride,” to encourage rights for immigrant workers.

Oct. 2-3: “Journey of Hope,” a message of forgiveness and reconciliation by families of murder victims, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at Corpus Christi University Parish; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Epworth United Methodist Church.

Oct. 5: “Take Action to Change the Nation,” candlelight vigil, 5:30 p.m., University of Toledo Scott Park Campus.

Oct. 7: Multifaith Council Series: Patterns for Peace, Hindu and Buddhist, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Heatherdowns Library.

Oct. 14: Multifaith Council Series: Patterns for Peace, Jewish and Tribal, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Heatherdowns Library.

Oct. 16: “Teen Diversity Summit,” 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Crystal Ellis Center.

Oct. 19-25: YWCA's annual “Week Without Violence”; with a brown-bag luncheon Oct. 24 in YWCA Building.

Oct. 21: Multifaith Council Series: Patterns for Peace, Islam and Middle East, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Heatherdowns Library.

Oct. 23: Gun Safety Annual Pledge, Toledo Public Schools, site to be announced, 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 23: Coalition for Quality Education silver anniversary, with speaker Jawanza Kunjufu, 6:30 p.m., Radisson Hotel.

Oct. 28: Multifaith Council Series: Patterns for Peace, diverse Christian beliefs, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Heatherdowns Library.

Oct. 30: “Unity in Diversity,” Catholic Diocesan luncheon at Catholic Center, noon to 2 p.m.

Nov. 8: Erase the Hate Shabbat Service, Congregation B'nai Israel, 10 a.m.

Nov. 23: Lazarus - the Musical, 3 and 7 p.m., Franciscan Center at Lourdes College, Sylvania.