Former professional basketball player Magic Johnson speaks to TJ students about the importance of standing up for others. photo by Ava Ward
The Anti-Defamation League delivered messages of inclusion, kindness, and positivity to Thomas Jefferson High School students in the No Place for Hate Virtual Assembly.
Though anti-bullying campaigns are fixtures in the majority of high schools, TJ elevated their bullying prevention tactics to an entirely new level when they introduced the No Place for Hate Virtual Assembly on Wednesday, February 10th, 2021. Infused with energy, optimism, and inspiration, the thirty-minute online event empowered students to stand up for themselves and treat others with kindness.
“We thought it would be something fun and different—a little unique to some of the other things we have been doing online this year,” explained Emily Lupo, TJ’s Dean of Culture. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish anti-hate governmental organization that created No Place for Hate, is no stranger to developing unique and engaging events for students. In the past, ADL has hosted live BMX shows at TJ, wherein professional bikers performed stunning flips and tricks while simultaneously encouraging the crowd to eliminate bullying from their school. Due to the pandemic’s prevention of live programs, No Place for Hate was forced to take a different, virtual approach.
“We wanted to make something kind of special, because normally we have the BMX show live, and that’s really exciting because the kids can watch the athletes doing backflips and crazy tricks outside. I can only imagine that in the remote learning world it gets kind of monotonous doing the same thing every day,” stated Jenna Curtis, the Events Operations Manager of the production agency that ADL works with to create No Place for Hate. “We needed something to get the students’ attention, so we wanted to partner with these celebrities that students look up to.” The celebrity lineup for TJ’s event included social media influencers David Dobrik and Dixie D’Amelio, sports stars Magic Johnson, Tony Hawk, Richard Sherman, and Tim Tebow, and singer Ally Brooke. “We partnered with them to share their stories on bullying or mental health or struggles they have gone through to get to the top, just to kind of grab the students’ attention and make it relatable, because these are people that they look up to,” Curtis added.
The celebrities contributed unique perspectives on bullying prevention. “My parents always taught me to be kind, treat others how I wanted to be treated, and stand up in the face of adversity. While I never experienced bullying personally, I knew it was my responsibility to stand up and protect kids who couldn’t protect themselves. Try to embrace the things that make each other unique,” advised NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. “To those who have experienced bullying, I stand with you. Be confident in your special qualities and know there are people in your life who believe in you and love you. Remember that you are not alone.”
D’Amelio, who gained popularity through the app TikTok, recounted how social media negatively impacted her mental health. “What you see on social media isn’t always real life. It’s a lot of faking smiles and acting like your life is perfect, when sometimes it’s not. People don’t see my side of it, where I’m struggling,” D’Amelio related. “It’s always important to spread kindness, because you never know what someone is going through.” Though Johnson and D’Amelio grew up in entirely different locations and generations, they share the experience of being bullied. Anyone can be a victim of bullying, no matter how strong, talented, or popular they are.
While Tony Hawk is now known as the “godfather of skateboarding,” he was once a young boy who suffered from bullying. “I was small, and I didn’t fit in. I was kind of nerdy, and skating wasn’t cool at the time. I got picked on a lot,” remembered Hawk. “If you are trying to make fun of people that you somehow think are lesser than you, you are creating a vicious cycle. If you are feeling uncomfortable with yourself, try to figure it out on your own instead of taking it out on someone else.” Hawk stressed that a passion that might make one seem “uncool” in the moment, such as Hawk’s passion for skateboarding, can ultimately develop into something amazing. He encouraged students to embrace their differences and embrace one another.
“It is so important, especially now, more than ever, to uplift one another, to encourage one another, especially as so many people are experiencing loneliness and isolation,” insisted Brooke, who used to sing with girl group Fifth Harmony. By making themselves vulnerable to their audience and relating their past experiences with bullying, the celebrities at the No Place for Hate Virtual Assembly showed their viewers that there is a light at the end of the dark, lonely tunnel students can feel trapped in when they experience bullying.
To sweeten the deal, attendants had the opportunity to enter a drawing for a chance to win an XBOX Series X, a prize worth roughly $500. In addition, students who followed the No Hate Tour’s Instagram account were automatically entered in a drawing to win the second-place prize: a $100 gift card. The giveaways, alongside the glamour factor contributed by the celebrities, served to show students that bullying prevention can be exciting and rewarding. Even students who did not participate in the live assembly can join in on the fun. For those who were unable to attend the No Place for Hate event, a recording of the assembly is available here. “I was disappointed I could not go because of conflicting timetables, but now I can watch it. I appreciate [the recording],” commented sophomore James Mills.
Even during a pandemic, bullying prevention programming is crucial for TJ Spartans. With many teenagers feeling isolated and powerless as a result of social distancing, it is easy for students to become both perpetrators and victims of cyberbullying. In a survey of the TJ students who attended the No Place for Hate Virtual Assembly, 86% of respondents reported experiencing some form of bullying. Luckily, this unfortunate statistic is likely to change. Through extensive data research, ADL has confirmed that school-based bullying prevention programs like No Place for Hate have been able to decrease the rate of bullying by up to 25%. After its successful No Place for Hate Virtual Assembly, TJ is poised to become a place free of hatred and filled with love.
