Six Hackley Students Participated in 2014 Youth Human Rights Institute

Five Hackley sophomores – Sabina T., Florry A., Lindsay S., Irene K., and Caroline S. - participated in the annual Youth Institute on Human Rights sponsored by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Institute at Manhattanville College. Junior Jeffery G. led a workshop on corrective rape, a current practice thought to “cure” gays and lesbians of homosexual behavior. This violation of human rights is particularly prevalent in South Africa.

270 students from 24 schools around Westchester gathered in Benzinger Hall to hear a keynote address by Alison Crowther, founder of the Red Bandana Project, a human rights initiative honoring the memory of her son, Welles, who was killed on 9/11.

Students then adjourned to workshops on topics ranging from homelessness and poverty, both in the US and around the globe, and civilians in the crisis in Syria to transgender issues, violence against women, bullying, and climate change. After lunch, school groups created action plans for human rights initiatives and Upstander Week at their schools. This was the 50th anniversary of the brutal attack on Kitty Genovese, who cried out for help to bystanders but no upstander answered her plea.

Kevin Plunkett, Deputy Westchester County Executive and former Hackley parent, read a proclamation from County Eexcutive Robert Astorino declaring May 19-23, 2014 Upstander Week.