Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recorded a video supporting the 2011 Hours Against Hate campaign (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-4XlLis7CA). In her video message, Secretary Clinton called on citizens around the world to “stand up and speak out against hate.”

The focus of this campaign is to encourage people -- especially youth -- to take action against hate and bridge divides across lines of culture, religion, class and gender by volunteering their time for someone different from themselves. People can pledge hours and help someone who “doesn’t look like you, live like you, or pray like you” through the 2011 Hours Against Hate Facebook website (www.facebook.com/2011HoursAgainstHate). This site is a forum for people from every corner of the globe to come together and share ways they are standing up against hate.

2011 Hours Against Hate was launched in February 2011 by Special Representative to Muslim Communities, Farah Pandith, and Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor Anti-Semitism, Hannah Rosenthal. Over the course of this year the State Department, along with foreign governments, civil society organizations, student groups, and individuals will participate in a wide variety of campaign events. 2011 Hours Against Hate aspires to bring people together and build stronger communities across the globe.

The State Department will host a 2011 Hours Against Hate Town Hall on April 29^th from 2p.m. to 3p.m. This event is open to the press. (Please contact PublicOutreach@state.gov for additional information)

For more information about the campaign, please contact 2011HoursAgainstHate@state.gov or visit http://www.facebook.com/2011HoursAgainstHate.