There is no question, our area is becoming a less welcoming place for minorities.

In Woodinville, a man has been charged with a hate crime for attacking a transgender woman. In Kent, a Sikh man was shot in front in front of his home. The Muslim association of Puget Sound in Redmond has experienced violence to their facility.

While I applaud the City of Bothell for declaration of protecting all members of the community, I think it is critical that we citizens remember that a city declaration is not enough. An empathetic head shake will not be enough to demonstrate our solidarity with the oppressed. Oppression is not just participating in crime, but includes normalizing those events; treating the victims as something other than our own family. Hatred spreads through indifference and inaction. Therefore, we as individuals must continually push against our inner tendencies to normalize outrage and dehumanize those facing oppression.

One way to stay vigilant against apathy is to make a personal connection with marginalized people. There are several ways in our community that we can get out of our comfort zone and cultivate connection with marginalized groups. First and foremost, I would encourage people to join Bothell Alliance for Justice, a Facebook group that “committed to raising awareness and taking action on local policies, issues, and institutions through an anti-racist, anti-oppression framework that addresses institutional and systemic racism”.

The group keeps members up to date on forums, gatherings, and local political taking place in the area. However, there are many more local opportunities to form relationships. The group Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) Resistance has a pen pal program that supports folks who are incarcerated.

People can find more information at http://www.nwdcresis tance.org/pen-pal/. World Relief Seattle has numerous volunteer opportunities for people to support refugees living in and around Seattle.

Additionally, OneAmerica has opportunities in Kirkland to teach English and computer skills with immigrants. There are numerous opportunities within our community to engage our neighbors and promote unity within our community. I encourage all members of our community to stay active against hate.

Claire Robson, Bothell