Amid pandemic, responsible leaders preach and practice human kindness

Reacting to a global rise in hate crimes and bigotry amid the coronavirus pandemic, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week urged religious leaders to challenge “inaccurate and harmful messages” that are fueling the alarming increase.

His remarks are worth repeating in Southern Nevada, where we hope leaders of all types — faith and secular — willanswer Guterres’ call “to promote nonviolence and reject xenophobia, racism and all forms of intolerance.”

“It lays bare our responsibility to promote solidarity as the foundation of our response — a solidarity based on the human rights and human dignity of all,” he said during an online meeting with clergy, referring to the pandemic. “And it highlights the crucial role of religious leaders in your communities and beyond.”

Unifying voices are needed due to trends that go beyond the health crisis. Last week, the Anti-Defamation League reported that anti-Semitic incidents last year in the United States hit the highest level since the group began tracking them in 1979. The ADL recorded 2,100 acts of assault, vandalism and harassment in 2019, up 12% from 2018.

These hate crimes had been on a steady downward trend until 2015, when they spiked and have remained high ever since. The increase coincides exactly with the rise of President Donald Trump, whose bigotry and hateful rhetoric have emboldened white nationalists and others who prey on Jews and people of color.

Las Vegas hasn’t been spared. There have been 10 incidents in Southern Nevada during 2019 and so far this year, the ADL reports, including the arrest of a 23-year-old man who told a confidential FBI informant he planned to shoot Jews at a synagogue or other location.

Fortunately, overall crime in the valley has subsided significantly since the outbreak — 27%, according to the most recent report from Metro Police.

But as the pandemic grinds on and tensions rise amid job losses, economic uncertainty and isolation, it’s important for leadership to speak out against bigotry, correct misinformation and model good behavior.

Sadly, the political polarization that has gripped the nation extends even to the COVID-19 crisis, as shown by the armed “open up” protests by right-wing militants and others who are simply misled by extremist media. In some places, these divisions have led to violence against people for merely wearing face masks or asking others to wear them.

This is where the voices of faith leaders can be especially powerful, simply by spreading information from experts and encouraging listeners to protect others. No, a face mask is not a symbol of oppression. It’s a way of helping curtail the spread of the disease. Nor is it wise to do away with social distancing guidelines too quickly. Doing so would greatly increase the likelihood of further outbreaks.

Guterres encouraged this kind of messaging, calling on leaders to leverage their networks in support of government efforts to promote public health measures and to practice social-distancing guidelines at faith-based activities.

It’s a constructive narrative. By spreading it, Southern Nevada leadership in houses of worship and elsewhere can help us overcome the outbreak faster and recovery more quickly.