One of the privileges I enjoy in my role as the Chairperson of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission is to speak at events and to groups throughout the state. This morning, I was invited to provide some opening remarks for the annual Michigan Department of Civil Rights MI Response to Hate Conference. With thanks to Harold Core (Director of Strategic Initiatives and Public Information) for providing talkings points for me to incorporate into the following remarks.

Good Morning! This is Dave and I am wearing a blue suit with a purple shirt because … you know … Prince. As it was mentioned, I’m Dave Worthams and I am the Chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. I want to welcome you to today’s event on behalf of my fellow commissioners.

Created in the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the Civil Rights Commission has the distinction of being the only state civil rights commission explicitly mentioned within a state constitution in the nation. We are the only one, making Michigan a state with the forward thinking to equip the citizens of today and tomorrow with a vehicle to tackle many of the issues all Michiganders face, regardless of who they are. Along with the work that we do, we have the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to serve as our operational and administrative arm.

As the Chair of the Commission, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to the 2025 MI Response to Hate annual conference. As I think about the theme of today’s event, “A Community Response: Standing Against Hate” I am struck by both sections of that theme. For me, it brings to mind two ideas together that captures this concept.

The first part of the theme begs the question of who speaks for your community. Whether we realize it or not, each of our communities is constantly communicating to its members and the larger world. If the voices of hate within your community are louder than those voices of love or those voices of peace, then those voices of hate will represent your community. For those looking in from the outside, that’s all they will be able to perceive.

And perception is reality.

A new person arriving in your city cannot hear individually from every resident. A young student learning the expectations of being an upstanding member of the community doesn’t have the time or the expertise to conduct a scientific poll. The most common and most vocal voices represent your community and indeed can sway the opinions of people within that community.

Therefore, the community response to hate must be louder than the hate itself. That is the standard we must apply. We must be louder than hate. That is the power of community. It is difficult for three or four people to yell louder than the most hateful people around us. But if you can gather a few hundred or a few thousand, then even the whisper of peace, justice, and love can overrule intolerance.

We need the community response to be vigilant.

We need the community response to be loud.

We need the community response to never stop, even in the darkest of times.

The second point I want to make about the importance of a community response is to make it clear why you are important; why it is important that we stand against hate as a community.

I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is believing that hate is about the target. If a group of people seem to hate immigrants, then it must be about the immigrants. 

But it’s not about the victim of hate. It’s about the hate itself. Hate is a living thing that must constantly feed and once it’s done with a particular victim, it will move to the next target and the next person and the next idea. It will go on and on until there’s nothing left.

Unless we do something to push back on that darkness.

There is a poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller that reads:

First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”

I’m sure many of you are familiar with this poem. It been posted often on social media and quoted often during times of oppression and because it is effective in grabbing the attention of people. It is powerful as it demonstrates the real-life history of Nazi Germany. It captures this idea that hate must be directed at a target and once it’s consumed that target it moves on to something else. Unless challenged by love and peace, it will simply search out the next target for elimination. 

We must address hate as a community because ultimately hate will consume the entire community. Hate will never be satisfied.

Today, the ugly voices of hate are speaking loudly. And if we choose to be silent, then hate will represent us … and it will eventually come after us.

So, what do we do about this? What can we do right now?

This is our moment to stand up for what is right. This is our moment to make our voices louder than the voices that would make people feel unwelcome and alienated. This is our moment to say we will not tolerate violence or crimes that target specific types of people because of who they are. We know that hate crimes are designed to target communities and so our communities must be willing to stand firm and say that Michigan is not a place where hate wins. Michigan is not a place where we are swallowed up by darkness. Michigan is a place where peace and love prevails because Michiganders of good will are lights that shall never be put out.

And if you believe, as an individual, that you can’t make a difference. Let me share with you a line from one of my favorite songs by Sting – An Englishman in New York.

Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety

You could end up as the only one.

Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society

At night a candle’s brighter than the Sun.

Everyone here is a beautiful candle and each one of you will be brighter than the Sun in the face of the stark challenges the world sends our way.

Be a bright candle and let that be your legacy.

One final point I want to share with you regards the question of who will stand with Michigan communities against hate. You may have noticed that there are federal agencies that are no longer listed on our materials as partners. Right now, the Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes is almost entirely a collaboration between the state government and our community partners. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is leading the charge against hate in Michigan. The Commission is keeping this a priority and with our state constitution giving us the mission of securing the equal protection of civil rights without discrimination in this state, we will always lead this charge, and we are proud to stand with you.

If you believe that standing against hate must be a priority in Michigan, I remind you that you have the right to contact state elected officials and let them know how you feel. If you feel passionately about this, now is a great time to exercise your voice because just about five miles to the west of here, down Michigan Avenue, members of the state legislature are making decisions about the next state budget that will have a serious impact on the everyday reality of what Michiganders across our state will face moving forward. I encourage you to send an email, drop a voice mail, or if you have your legislators cell phone, send them a text and let them know how important it is that the budget reflect our willingness to stand against the forces of darkness and hate.

Thank you all for being here and for standing together. Today’s event will give you the tools, resources, and connections you need to resist hate wherever and whenever it emerges.

Enjoy the day and may God bless you all.