Washington, D.C. — A group of bipartisan and diverse national leaders convened on Tuesday, March 26th at the White House, hosted by the heads of the Domestic Policy Council and Office of Public Engagement. The stakeholders are Members of Bedrock's National Leadership Council, comprising bipartisan former officials and leaders of community organizations who are key stakeholders in addressing the challenge of hate-fueled violence, including but not limited to leaders representing perspectives from communities such as AAPI, Black, Christian, Jewish, LGBTQ+, Muslim, and Sikh, as well as former Republican and Democratic officials.
Bedrock was launched in late 2023, following the culmination of the Dignity.us nationwide listening tour launched at the White House United We Stand Summit in September 2022. This was the first meeting of the National Leadership Council.
The White House readout of the meeting is available here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/03/30/readout-of-white-house-roundtable-discussion-on-countering-hate-fueled-violence/
Along with the convening, the Bedrock National Leadership Council released a pivotal joint statement, affirming their solidarity in addressing hate-fueled violence, a commitment to addressing hate-fueled violence within their own communities, and endorsing the emerging field of hate-fueled violence prevention strategies. The statement was crafted using peacebuilding approaches to use the narratives of national leaders to reduce hate, thus serving as a model for commitments to work across differences to address these challenges.
The statement is available here: www.bedrock.us/jointstatement
The signatories of the statement include alumni of the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden Administrations, as well as a diverse variety of communities of color and groups representing a variety of religious identities, as well as LGBTQ+ Americans.
An annex to the joint statement illuminates the evidence-based methods that shape the Council's message as a mechanism to reduce hate, reflecting a deeply rooted desire to bridge divides and cultivate a culture of safety and belonging for all.
