Imagine a seventh grader sitting at home using the Internet to do research for a paper she is writing on Martin Luther King, Jr. Or perhaps you could imagine that same seventh grader using her home PC to retrieve emails from friends after her homework is done. Now imagine that the information our student finds on Dr. Martin Luther King is actually provided by a racist organization. Imagine further that the emails contain hateful messages denigrating African Americans, Jews, Arab Americans, or people who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Unfortunately, the scenarios above are not imaginary. All across our nation, children are being bombarded by hateful messages and ideas through the Internet every day. Indeed, nearly 200 million Americans are users of the Internet today, with children making up a significant portion of this group. More and more frequently, those who choose to hate are using the Internet to spread their messages and communicate their threats and harassment directly to members of the communities they hate. Using the relative anonymity and speed provided by the Internet, purveyors of hate can furtively attack children whenever and wherever they choose.

Parents and educators resolved to protect children from online hatred and filth need the most effective tools at their disposal. Partners Against Hate has developed a new tool that offers useful advice and tips for parents and educators interested in protecting children while online. Hate on the Internet: A Response Guide for Educators and Families is available for free download at the Partners Against Hate web site.

It's time that we ALL join together in protecting children from bias and hate on the Internet.