All Are Welcome: Celebrating Community Diversity and Resisting Racism

The UWL Anti-Islamophobia Working Group, Weigent-Hogan Neighborhood Association, La Crosse Interfaith Shoulder-to-Shoulder Network, and the La Crosse Public Library invite you to:nAll Are Welcome: Celebrating Community Diversity and Resisting RacismnSaturday, April 25, 2020n3pmnWeigent Park playground (SE corner of 15th St. & Cass Ave., La Crosse)nJoin community leaders, neighbors, and city officials at Weigent Park as we celebrate the official placement of “All Are Welcome” signs at all La Crosse public parks. City leaders will make brief remarks to be followed by children’s activities. Please bring your family!nBackground:nRecently, residents of La Crosse have encountered elevated levels of racism and xenophobia, targeting people of color, in general, and immigrants and Muslims, in particular. In one instance, a man shouted “No Muslims allowed!”  at two women of South Asian descent and their young children, while they were at the Weigent Park playground. (The story is captured in this news segment.) In response, La Crosse Parks & Rec. created new “All are Welcome” signs for all of La Crosse’s public parks.nWe are planning an inaugural public event for these signs at Weigent Park on Saturday, April 25th at 3pm with the Mayor and others, denouncing such acts and supporting our diverse neighbors. This is part of a broader community-wide visible initiative to foster healthier multicultural communities.