Long Island’s suburbs have become more diverse and welcoming over the past several decades, but that progress did not happen by accident, according to longtime civic leader and former Smithtown Anti-Bias Task Force member William G. Holst.
Speaking on a recent episode of “Disrupting Hate” with host Ken Schachter on hmTV, Holst reflected on his years combating prejudice through education, community outreach and partnerships with local schools.
Holst, a former Suffolk County legislator, assistant county attorney and school board president, joined the Smithtown Anti-Bias Task Force after an incident in the late in which swastikas were discovered on a high school graduation field in Commack.
The incident shocked residents, particularly because of the area’s large Jewish population.
“People got there and were aghast,” Holst recalled. “They said, ‘Wait a minute, this is something that really shouldn’t be tolerated in a community that is a mixture of people.’”
The Town of Smithtown responded by establishing the Anti-Bias Task Force, bringing together community leaders, educators and residents to address incidents of intolerance and promote inclusion.
Holst said one of the group’s primary goals was determining whether such acts stemmed from hatred, ignorance or youthful misconduct, and then finding ways to educate young people about the consequences of their actions.
“We certainly don’t want young people thinking that it’s a prank to deface property and do something that targets any particular group,” he said.
Rather than focusing solely on punishment, the task force worked closely with local school districts to develop programs that emphasized understanding, empathy and respect for others.
One of the organization’s most successful initiatives involved creating “bias-free zones” within schools. Students were encouraged to participate through artwork, essays and projects promoting inclusion and tolerance.
At annual events held in partnership with the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, students and their families were recognized for their efforts to raise awareness about bias and discrimination.
“The thought was that the best thing would be to make sure young people had a sense that what they were doing was hurtful,” Holst said.
During his years on both the Smithtown and Suffolk County Anti-Bias Task Forces, Holst said relatively few incidents rose to the level of prosecutable hate crimes. He noted that proving criminal intent is often one of the biggest challenges for law enforcement.
While reports of bias incidents may have increased in recent years, Holst said determining whether those incidents constitute hate crimes can be difficult.
Long Island itself has changed dramatically during that time.
Holst pointed to growing Hispanic, Black and immigrant populations throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, describing today’s suburbs as far more diverse than they were several decades ago.
“I think the suburbs now are more welcoming than they were 30 or 40 years ago,” he said.
Although he acknowledged that progress takes time, Holst remains optimistic that education and community engagement can continue to reduce prejudice.
“The hope would be that there are fewer and fewer young people who think that doing something that indicates hatred toward a group is acceptable,” he said.
For Holst, the work of combating bias ultimately begins with teaching the next generation that inclusion strengthens communities and that acts intended as jokes or pranks can leave lasting wounds.
For the full interview, visit www.hmtcli.org