Montana Human Rights Network

Fighting Hate with Democratic Values

Join Leadership Talks on Friday, October 1 at 1 pm ET for a live, online interview with Christine Kaufmann and Ken Toole, co-directors of the Montana Human Rights Network (MHRN), and 2003 Leadership for a Changing World awardees. Kaufmann and Toole will discuss strategies to fight hate crimes by promoting democratic values and public discourse.

Read the transcript from October 1, 2004 Leadership Talks Archive

Helped by a small staff, Toole and Kaufmann have built the Montana Human Rights Network, an organization of over 1,400 members and 10 local groups. MHRN’s mission is to promote the democratic values of pluralism, equality, and justice; to challenge bigotry and intolerance; and to organize communities to speak out. When skinheads harassed Jewish families, for example, MHRN worked with local activists to organize a “Not In Our Town” campaign, which subsequently became a national model of community response to bigotry and racial violence. The Network also issued a seminal report on the militia movement that was cited by media nationwide following the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building.

As the militia movement spread, the American Jewish Committee, an international human rights organization, commissioned MHRN to write What to Do when the Militia Comes to Town, a community organizing manual disseminated nationwide. From confronting extremist militia organizations to advocating for gay rights and American Indian tribal sovereignty, Toole and Kaufman have been unflinching advocates for social justice. They also have established the Policy Institute, a think tank that addresses what Toole and Kaufman describe as the failings of the progressive movement, and how it can become more effective.

When MHRN becomes involved in a community experiencing hate crimes or other acts of political violence, Toole’s and Kaufmann’s strategy is to talk with community leaders, then build coalitions across constituent groups, encouraging them to form local human rights groups. These groups use a process that involves readings, presentations and discussions, and a focus on ideology and values. The objective is to show the links between white supremacy on one hand and economic injustice and homophobia on the other.

“Progressives in Montana believe their views are not widely shared and that expressing their opinions on issues will result in hostile responses,” the activists have written. Challenging that assumption is central to their leadership style. Pushing that challenge a step further, Toole and Kaufmann ran for and won seats in Montana’s state senate and state house of representatives, respectively, in 2000. Both campaigned on overtly liberal platforms to demonstrate that traditional liberal ideas are more widely accepted than many progressives believe. To fulfill their legislative commitment, both take a leave from the MHRN for 90 days every two years, when the lawmakers are in session.

For more information

MHRN Leadership for a Changing World profile