Educators have a unique role to play in recognizing, preventing, and intervening in radicalization to violent extremism. And yet, they are also some of the most under-resourced workers facing these problems. This short guide for educators supplements the Parents & Caregivers Guide to offer strategies specifically tailored for the needs of those working in classrooms—both in-person and virtual.
In January of 2021, in the wake of the attack by far-right extremists on the US Capitol, Learning for Justice and cohosts from SPLC’s Intelligence Project and American University’s Polarization and Extremism Research Innovation Lab (PERIL) presented a webinar on understanding and preventing the radicalization of young people online. Attendees learned about the relationship between digital literacy and radicalization, became familiar with warning signs, and examined the ways online hate affects targeted groups. In addition to directly addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radicalization efforts, the webinar covered tools for intervening with vulnerable students and responding when incidents occur.
Acknowledgments: Pasha Dashtgard, PERIL Senior Researcher; Emily Pressman, PERIL Research Assistant; Lydia Bates, SPLC Senior Research Analyst; Wyatt Russell, PERIL Project Manager; Daisy Gebbia-Richards, PERIL Research Assistant; Brian Hughes, PERIL Associate Director; Cynthia Miller-Idriss, PERIL Director
Illustration at top by Claudia Whitaker
