Good afternoon. My name is Lecia Brooks, and I serve as the chief of staff and culture at the Southern Poverty Law Center, located in Montgomery, Alabama — the Deep South of the United States. I am deeply honored to speak with you today at the UN Forum on Minority Issues, especially given the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Minority Rights. I want to thank the Special Rapporteur, the Tom Lantos Institute, and all of you for your service in building a world that is more just, equitable, and compassionate for all people. In the three decades since the adoption of the Declaration, this body has affirmed the necessity of honoring the human rights of all people. You have shed light on abuses of those rights in minority communities across the globe. But even as we acknowledge these achievements, we must also reflect on a painful truth. We’re gathering in a moment of crisis unparalleled in modern times. The influence of hate and extremism — particularly white supremacist and white nationalist ideologies — is growing, and it’s threatening minority communities worldwide. 1