This summer, Not In Our Town is offering free films for community gatherings to galvanize support for hate crime response and prevention. The Ad Council is also offering their powerful 11-minute film Rising as part of this program.   

Violent manifestations of hate in summer are etched in our memories, from Oak Creek to Charleston, Orlando to Charlottesville. As incidents of hate crimes  [1]escalate across the United States and the world, it's valuable to look back and learn from communities who have faced the trauma of hate violence. With strength and resilience, these communities forged strong bonds sending a message to perpetrators that their hate would not gain a foothold in their cities. Looking back, twenty years ago this summer deadly white supremacist attacks left many communities across the country reeling. The NIOT film Summer of Hate / Season of Healing documents three anti-Semitic arson attacks, the murder of a Gay couple and the ways in which communities responded to the violence. Waking in Oak Creek recounts the story of the survivors of a shooting at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin and their leadership in transforming their place in the community. Not In Our Town: Manhattan Beach looks at how an African American family is joined by their community in standing up to hate after their home is set on fire.  And finally, Rising, a new short film from The Ad Council written by Lena Waithe and directed by David Nutter (Game of Thrones) asks why we must wait for disaster to strike in order to find our shared humanity.

How to get started

Fill out this form [2] and we will send you a guide for organizing a screening and materials. 

When your event is scheduled, we will send you a high resolution copy of the film program you choose to share at your event.  

How can a Not In Our Town Film Screening help your town stop hate? 

*from our screening events last year in CA

More About the Films

Summer of Hate / Season of Healing

Torahs from the sanctuary at Congregation B’Nai Israel are carried in in by congregational leaders in 2000 after an arson attack on the temple in 1999. (Photo by Dick Schmidt, Sacramento Bee)

Summer of Hate / Season of Healing (watch trailer [3]) follows the 1999 fire-bombings of three synagogues, an event that jump-starts what comes to be known as "the summer of hate." Within hours, the community unites in support of the victims, culminating in a gathering of four thousand people. But two weeks later, the arsonists murder a prominent gay couple in a nearby town, and the local residents and leaders rally against hate crimes of every kind. Five years after the arsons, with rebuilding well underway, congregants of one of the burned synagogues invite the families of the murdered men to a special Shabbat service to commemorate—and heal from—their common loss. (2009)

Waking in Oak Creek

One year anniversary memorial service for the Oak Creek shooting victims and their families.

Waking in Oak Creek (watch trailer [4]): As the Sikh community in Oak Creek, Wisconsin prepares for Sunday prayers, a deadly hate attack shatters their lives, but not their resilience. After six worshipers are killed by a white supremacist, the local community finds inspiration in the Sikh tradition of forgiveness and faith. Lieutenant Murphy, shot 15 times in the attack, joins the mayor and police chief as they forge new bonds with the Sikh community. Young temple members, still grieving, emerge as leaders in the quest to end the violence. In the year following the tragedy, thousands gather for vigils and community events to honor the victims and seek connection. Together, a community rocked by hate is awakened and transformed by the Sikh spirit of relentless optimism. (2014)

Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach (watch trailer [5]) is a portrait of a community grappling with a suspected hate crime after an African American family’s home was set on fire in Manhattan Beach, CA. Ronald and Malissia Clinton share their story about the night of the attack, their fear that the attack was racially motivated, and their reaction to the overwhelming community response of support. A few days after the arson at their home, 700 community members gathered in the town square to stand with the Clintons, and hundreds donated to a reward fund for information about the case. One year later, while the case is still under investigation, local law enforcement, school leaders and community members are working to build a safe and inclusive community for all. Released with the Department of Justice COPS office for our partnership in the Safe, Inclusive Communities Initiative. (2016)

Rising

A still from Rising, a new short film from The Ad Council's love has no labels [6] campaign.

In Rising (watch film [7]), a diverse but divided neighborhood struggles to survive rising floodwaters and bias in the heart of America. The original short film by director David Nutter and screenwriter Lena Waithe asks the question, “why does it take a disaster to bring us together?” Rising is a powerful film that takes us back to where we started with Love Has No Labels, reminding everyone to see each other as humans above all else. The film captures the poignant story of a diverse neighborhood coming together in a flood, rising above their differences to support each other in a time of need. At a time where we’re seeing stories of togetherness overcome the devastation that comes with hurricane season, this story is timely and relevant to all. (2019)

Request a film or films [2] and we will send you a guide for organizing a screening and materials.