By Shannon Lukens.

A new group met for the first time Tuesday called STAND, which stands for Steamboat Team to combat Antisemitism and Discrimination. The meeting was in Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library.

Local leaders from the school district, law enforcement and throughout the Routt County community attended, including interim Steamboat Springs Police Chief Mark Beckett.

“We’re taking the first step to having an organized, educated discussion about antisemitism, about bias-motivated crimes. This is an impressive first step. Now we have to follow through with it.”

Rabbi Kolby Morris-Dahary organized the first meeting to raise awareness of bias and discrimination in our community. There was an incident of antisemitism and of racism at Steamboat Springs High School in the fall, which prompted Rabbi Kolby to start the group as a space for positivity, hope, and change.

Interim Steamboat Springs Police Chief Mark Beckett says the incident at Steamboat Springs High School last September involved two students drawing swastikas in the dirt on the car of a Jewish student. This is the statement released today from Steamboat Springs School District. “On September 26, there was a report of an antisemitic incident in the high school parking lot, and an investigation was immediately initiated, including law enforcement resources.” The incident happened on the first day of Rosh Hashanah which is a High Holy Day for the Jews.

Chief Beckett says a second racist incident involved a Steamboat Springs High School student who is from Hayden, who held up a racist sign inviting a person to Homecoming. Chief Beckett says we need an open community discussion. “Kids are throwing around reckless ideas and they don’t understand what that means to people.”

 

Steamboat Springs High School freshman Bella Davidson also spoke that the school district needs guidance on how to address minorities. “We need tolerance education in our schools, starting in elementary school.” Davidson also said the high school needs more minority clubs.

 

Other speakers included Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent Dr. Celine Wicks, future SSHS Principal Jay Hamric, and Jerry Hernandez with Integrated Community.

Rabbi Kolby ended the meeting saying smaller working groups will be formed to address discrimination and bias in the Steamboat Springs community and what can be done to change it.