
Combating Hate & Bias Conference
Monday, November 6 & Tuesday, November 7, 2023
In a two-day conference, Polis: Center for Politics considered the various ways that hate, and bias influence the lives and experiences of communities in North Carolina, the United States, and around the world. The conversations paid particular attention to how numerous forms of hate and bias–including anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-women, and more–shape politics.
Conference Chair:

Abdullah Antepli
Associate Vice President/Associate Vice Provost for Community Engaged Research and Teaching; Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at the Duke Divinity School; Associate Professor of the Practice, Sanford School of Public Policy
Click here to download a pdf version of the program.
Day One: Monday, November 6
8:30-9:00 AM: Registration
9:00-9:30 AM: Welcome and Remarks from Conference Chair, Abdullah Antepli

Conference Chair Abdullah Antepli opened the Combating Hate and Bias conference on Monday, November 6, by imploring participants to show a united front against all forms of hate and bigotry. Abdullah Antepli is the Associate Vice President/Associate Vice Provost for Community Engaged Research and Teaching at Duke University and a faculty member at Sanford and Duke Divinity School. While he acknowledges and shares his disappointment that “every form of racism, hate, bigotry, words of exclusion and unwelcome is on the rise,” he is incredibly troubled that people are actually shocked. Bigotry is not a new concept, and he hopes this conference will reflect on the past and analyze the “internal, collective, immune system failures” that has continued to let hate and bigotry permeate in our society.
“Evil has two main tricks,” says Antepli. First, it “makes itself invisible” or “it distracts us with only marginal, clownish, violent elements and manifestations of hate.” He argues that evil is not only “burning crosses” more troublingly can be found “hiding within policies…within systems and structures of governance. Often evil hides itself not in the words of these policies, but between the lines…thrives through what is not being said” He continues, “our job is to unveil the veil” and to see racism, homophobia, antisemitism, and all forms of hate for what it is. Make it visible so we can be vigilant and morally alert against it”
Secondly, evil “forces us to compartmentalize hate. It says racism is a Black problem, antisemitism is a Jewish problem, homophobia is a LGBTQ problem, Islamophobia is a Muslim problem.” Instead, he asserts that society must show a united front against hate.
Antepli concludes his remarks by referencing the current turmoil and violence in Gaza and Israel. He argues, “if you are not shocked or dismayed, then you are not paying attention.” He states that the conflict is “spilling over into the United States and giving rise to antisemitism and islamophobia in numbers we cannot even imagine.” Antepli argues that we cannot have short-term and narrow strategies when looking for solutions to current instances of hate and bias without delving into the broader historical and political contexts behind these moments. “We cannot combat hate with the weather of the day, you have to understand the seasons of hate and its global manifestations.”
9:30-10:30 AM Panel 1: Hate, Bias, and Racism in Today's Political and Civic Space

This panel considered how racism shapes the contemporary political and civic landscape in the United States. Panelists paid particular attention to ways to address racial discrimination, hate, and bias. Moderated by Abdullah Antepli, Associate Vice President/Associate Vice Provost for Community Engaged Research and Teaching; Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at the Duke Divinity School; Associate Professor of the Practice, Sanford School of Public Policy.
- Robin Kirk, Codirector of the Duke Human Rights Center at the Franklin Humanities Institute
- S. Charmaine McKissick-Melton, Associate Professor Emeritus of Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University
- Johnathan Smith, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division at U.S. Department of Justice
- Meredith Weisel, Regional Director of ADL Washington D.C.
The first panel of the Combating Hate and Bias Conference explored hate, bias, and racism in today’s political and civic space. The panel was moderated by Conference Chair Abdullah Antepli and included Robin Kirk, Co-Director of the Duke Human Rights Center at the Franklin Humanities Institute; S. Charmaine McKissick-Melton, Associate Professor Emeritus of Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University; Johnathan Smith, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division at U.S. Department of Justice; and Meredith Weisel, Regional Director of ADL Washington D.C.
Each panelist highlighted the current political landscape and their own efforts to combat hate and bias. As the author of several children’s books, Robin Kirk states she is concerned about the current push to not only ban books in schools and libraries, but to limit what history is taught. As a board member to the Pauli Murray Center, she quotes Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, a human rights activist and legal scholar, “true emancipation lies in the acceptance of the whole past, in deriving strength from all my roots, in facing up to the degradation as well as the dignity of my ancestors.” Kirk argues that we must engage with the difficult parts of our pasts, “we can’t skip past it or worse, suppress it.” She also highlights the importance of approaching human rights through local perspectives and community engagement. She, along with Charmaine McKissick-Melton, chaired a committee on Confederate monuments in Durham. The committee discussed what to do with these monuments in a way that respects history. Although these conversations are challenging and difficult, she asserts, that “in Pauli Murray’s spirit” we must “lean in.”
Charmaine McKissick-Melton talked about how she got her spark for social justice from her father, a lawyer and prominent civil rights activist Floyd Bixler McKissick. He was a speaker on the March on Washington. She and her family worked to desegregate Durham. She argues that “things can’t happen without conversation and difficult conversation.” McKissick-Melton also highlights the importance of individual action and responsibility, even at the risk of alienating friends, family, and colleagues, to stand up for what is right.
Johnathan Smith discussed his work in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the rise of hate crimes. He states the DOJ was in large part started back in 1870 to prevent the rise and terrorism of the Ku Klux Klan. He argues that even 153 years later white supremacy is far too prevalent across our country. Citing the FBI’s annual hate crime statistics, he states that every year the number of hate crimes rises exponentially. Recently, his division has secured the conviction of several murderers who have committed hate crimes across the US. Smith states that “hate crime prosecution, as important and critical as they are, is not sufficient to solve this problem.” He argues that we must use all the tools available to be responsive including civil and local efforts, educational campaigns, and trust building between local communities and police.
Meredith Weisel went over her work with the ADL and their mission to fight antisemitism and hate since 1913. She argues that all forms of hate are interrelated, and we cannot fight one form of hate without fighting them all. She also asserts that although hate is not new, there is more normalization and mainstreaming of hate in large part due to disinformation, misinformation, and social media. All the panelists agreed that change is imperative at the local level, and Weisel noted that “all politics is local. All community is local. We need to start breaking down those barriers, otherwise, we will never find a path forward.”
10:45-11:45 AM Panel 2: Fighting Racism, Hate, and Bias at the State and Local Levels
This panel considers how hate, bias, and racism challenge state and local communities, and the ways that communities are fighting for a future that is free of racial discrimination, violence, and oppression. Panelists will offer insights into issues that have special relevance to people's day-to-day lives. Moderated by Stelfanie Williams, Vice President for Community Affairs, Duke University.
- Senator Jay Chaudhuri, North Carolina State Senator (District 15)
- Eileen Chow, Associate Professor of the Practice in Chinese and Japanese Cultural Studies, Director of Story Lab at Duke University
12:00-1:30 PM Keynote Address with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League; Former Director of the U.S. Office of Social Innovation & Civic Participation; Former Starbucks VP of Global Consumer Products, in Conversation with Conference Chair Abdullah Antepli, Associate Vice President/Associate Vice Provost for Community Engaged Research and Teaching; Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at the Duke Divinity School; Associate Professor of the Practice, Sanford School of Public Policy.
Lunch will be provided.
Keynote Address:

Jonathan Greenblatt
CEO of the Anti-Defamation League; Former Director of the U.S. Office of Social Innovation & Civic Participation; Former Starbucks VP of Global Consumer Products

Abdullah Antepli
Associate Vice President/Associate Vice Provost for Community Engaged Research and Teaching; Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at the Duke Divinity School; Associate Professor of the Practice, Sanford School of Public Policy
1:45-2:45 PM Panel 3: Combating Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Religious Oppression in 21st Century Politics
This panel draws together perspectives from academic scholarship, public service, journalism, and activism to consider the legacy of antisemitism, islamophobia, and other forms of religious oppression and to think seriously about ways to combat them. Moderated by Abdullah Antepli, Associate Vice President/Associate Vice Provost for Community Engaged Research and Teaching; Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at the Duke Divinity School; Associate Professor of the Practice, Sanford School of Public Policy.
- Rabbi Elana Friedman, Campus Rabbi and Jewish Chaplain for Jewish Life at Duke
- John Harwood, Polis Distinguished Fellow and Veteran Journalist
- Dr. Joshua Salaam, Director and Chaplain, The Center for Muslim Life at Duke University
3:00-4:00 PM Panel 4: Hate and Bias Toward the LGBTQ+ Community in Contemporary Politics
This panel considers the history of hate and bias toward the LGBTQ+ community and the role that it plays in contemporary politics. Drawing on a variety of perspectives, panelists will offer insight into the challenges posed by hate and bias and offer insight into ways to address these challenges. Moderated by Kate Whetten, Duke Professor of Public Policy and Global Health; Director, Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke Global Health Institute; Co-Director, Duke Sexual and Gender Minority Wellness Program.
- Angel Collie, Director of the Duke Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
- Sara LeGrand, Associate Research Professor, Duke Global Health Institute and Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research; Co-Director of the Duke Sexual and Gender Minority Wellness Program
- Nancy Petty, Pastor, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church
- Michael Vazquez, Public Theologian and Community Organizer; Former Director, Human Rights Campaign
Day Two: Tuesday, November 7
11:00-12:15 PM: Registration
12:15-1:30 PM Keynote Address with Frank Bruni, New York Times Columnist and Eugene C. Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy in the Sanford School of Public Policy in a Conversation with Deondra Rose, Director of Polis: Center for Politics and Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy, Political Science, and History at Duke University.
Lunch will be provided.
Keynote Address:

Frank Bruni
New York Times Columnist and Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy in the Sanford School of Public Policy

Deondra Rose
Director, Polis: Center for Politics
Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy, Political Science, and History at Duke University
1:45-2:35 PM Panel 5: Sexism, Misogyny, and Politics
This panel considers the role that hate and bias toward women has played in shaping life chances and the distribution of power in the United States. Panelists will consider a range of issues including the gender pay gap, women’s health, violence against women, unequal political representation, and more. Moderated by Deondra Rose, Director of Polis: Center for Politics, Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy, Political Science, and History.
- Selma Newbill, MPP Candidate at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and Advocacy Support Specialist at the Network for Victim Recovery of DC
- Nicki Washington, Cue Family Professor of the Practice, Computer Science and Gender, Sexuality, & Feminist Studies at Duke University; Director, Alliance for Identity-Inclusive Computing Education (AiiCE)
3:00-4:30 PM: Panel 6: The Unifiers: Fostering Transformative Conversation Across Differences
The task of promoting unity in a social and political landscape often characterized by hate and bias can seem daunting. This panel brings together a group of leaders who have successfully fostered transformative conversation across differences in their respective communities using a variety of approaches. Moderated by Pate Skene, Senior Research Scientist, University of Colorado Boulder and Associate Research Professor of Neurobiology at Duke University.
- Jed Atkins, E. Blake Byrne Associate Professor of Classical Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science at Duke University
- Brandon Britt, Access Services Librarian at Perkins Library, Duke University
- Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chloe Nguyen, Braver Angels Student Fellow; Nakayama Scholar and Alice M. Baldwin Scholar at Duke University
4:30-5:30 PM: Reception
5:30-6:30 PM Keynote Address with Ana Navarro, GOP Strategist, Political Contributor to CNN and Telemundo, and Co-Host of ABC’s The View and Bakari Sellers, CNN Political Analyst & Former Representative from South Carolina
Keynote Address:

Ana Navarro
GOP Strategist, Political Contributor to CNN and Telemundo, and Co-Host of ABC’s The View

Bakari Sellers
CNN Political Analyst & Former Representative from South Carolina