Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus leaders to take part in No Hate in Our State Town Hall
Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus December 17, 2025 | 1:59 PM
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 17 – State Reps. Napoleon Nelson and Darisha Parker, chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, will take part in a No Hate in Our State Town Hall hosted by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
The town hall, set for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at Penn Asian Senior Services, 6926 Old York Road, is a part of the No Hate in Our State initiative launched by the PHRC to combat bias and discrimination in Pennsylvania, build awareness and foster trust in the state’s communities.
“There is absolutely no room for any kind of hate in our Commonwealth,” said Nelson, D-Montgomery. “Hate crimes and threats not only harm individuals but also strike fear in our most vulnerable communities, including Black and brown communities. I am proud to continue leading the fight against hate in Pennsylvania.”
This town hall comes after Nelson, along with state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, introduced a four-bill Anti-Hate Crimes Package that includes strengthening the state’s ethnic intimidation penalties, providing law enforcement training on ethnic intimidation, expanding existing reporting programs in educational settings and requiring community service or diversity classes for hate crime offenders.
“A vital part of eroding hate and threats of violence is finding common ground,” said Parker, D-Phila. “We need to have tough but civil conversations that include the detrimental effects of hateful ideology on all of society.
“While hate crimes are perpetuated on historically marginalized groups, often Black and brown communities, they leave a stain on society as a whole. This town hall is an opportunity to come together for the betterment of our commonwealth.”
Along with Nelson and Parker, other panelists at the event will include:
- Amber Harris, Philadelphia regional director, PHRC
- Stan Straughter, Mayor’s Commission on African & Caribbean Immigrant Affairs
- Ken Yang, chief executive officer, Penn Asian Senior Services
The event will be moderated by Sheryl Meck, civil rights outreach director for the PHRC.
The event is free and open to the public. A form to RSVP, which also provides the option to submit questions for panelists, can be found here.