TONIGHT: Discussion on race relations held prior to KKK rally

The Dayton Unit NAACP is holding community events to counter a KKK rally in Dayton on Saturday. Shown from the left in this file photo are Rev. Herman Branham, first vice president Dayton unit; Derrick Forward, center, president Dayton unit, and Tom Roberts, Ohio conference president. FILE PHOTO/Lynn Hulsey

Credit: Lynn Hulsey

Credit: Lynn Hulsey

The Dayton Unit NAACP is holding community events to counter a KKK rally in Dayton on Saturday. Shown from the left in this file photo are Rev. Herman Branham, first vice president Dayton unit; Derrick Forward, center, president Dayton unit, and Tom Roberts, Ohio conference president. FILE PHOTO/Lynn Hulsey

Multiple events are scheduled this week to help the community understand the history of hate groups, train people to be safe if they plan to counter protest, and to provide alternative gatherings as a KKK-affiliated group comes to Dayton.

>> Full list of community events scheduled to understand hate groups, avoid the Klan

The local NAACP has three events planned — and none include confronting the Klan group downtown, said Derrick Foward, the Dayton Unit president. The first is a conversation about race on Thursday at the Dayton Art Institute.

“This is something that gives us an opportunity prior to the hate group coming in to sit down and have a general conversation regarding race and how we can continue to talk about it,” Foward said.

An Evening Discussion on Race Relations

Dayton Unit NAACP

6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 23

Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton

A candid conversation around the topic of race relations in our community. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and advance ticket reservations are required through etix.com.

The discussion will be hosted by Marsha Bonhart.

Panelists include Shannon Isom (President & CEO,
YWCA Dayton), Mila P. Cooper (Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Executive Director of the Coretta Scott King Center, Antioch College), Dr. Mark Pitcavage (Senior Research Fellow, Center on Extremism, Anti-Defamation League), Daniel Juday (Speaker and Consultant, Daniel Juday LLC), and Dr. Derrick L. Foward (President, Dayton Unit NAACP).

>> List of streets closed for KKK rally

>> What businesses and buildings are closed for the KKK rally in Dayton?

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