[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S6383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL'S ``NOT IN OUR TOWN'' PROGRAM

 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
people of Bloomington-Normal, IL, for their efforts to stem the growth 
of hate crimes and racial intolerance. Their commitment to taking 
proactive measures to prevent division and promote understanding serves 
as a model for communities across the Nation.
  Inspired by the film ``Not in Our Town,'' which tells the story of 
how Billings, MT, joined together in response to rampant hate crimes, 
the citizens of Bloomington-Normal created their own ``Not in Our 
Town'' program. They were not, however, responding to hate crimes or 
clear racial unrest. Instead, these Twin Cities chose to create a 
vehicle for awareness and prevention, to stop hate crimes before they 
started. This type of program is without a doubt ahead of its time.
  Designed to increase public knowledge about the threat of racial 
violence, the program is carried out in a variety of ways. Adult and 
youth discussions and forums are regularly held. All city entrances are 
marked with ``no racism'' signs. Many city workers wear ``Not in Our 
Town'' buttons, and all city vehicles are marked with ``Not in Our 
Town'' bumper stickers. Clearly, it's difficult to be in Bloomington-
Normal without knowing that prejudice and violence will not be 
accepted. In addition to these efforts, the city has also sponsored two 
anti-racism marches, which give citizens the opportunity to demonstrate 
their commitment to the program and its goals not only to each other, 
but to surrounding communities as well.
  Perhaps most vital to the program's success are its youth discussion 
groups. As one teen noted, ``History is going to repeat itself if the 
youth aren't taught about the Holocaust and slavery * * * they won't 
know any better.'' ``Not in Our Town'' provides young people a way to 
learn how local events are part of national issues, and more 
importantly, how community action can really make a difference for 
people everywhere.
  As President Clinton begins a new initiative to have a national 
conversation about race and diversity, Bloomington-Normal has truly 
taken the lead in providing a model that all Americans can follow when 
organizing their home towns to discuss and confront what is perhaps our 
most important issue.

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