In 2025, Cook County United Against Hate (United Against Hate) hosted seven events throughout the county intended to educate its citizens on different cultures in efforts to stop the spread of racism and hate. In 2026, the coalition is planning to continue their mission of ending hate in Cook County through education, events and online resources. 

United Against Hate was created in 2022 as a response to antisemitism on the North Shore. Targeted at ending all forms of hate, the coalition gives citizens and establishments opportunities to join its mission such as signing an online pledge denouncing hate. Additionally, they can participate in the coalition’s educational events and post a symbol that the coalition states is a “beacon of unity” and a promise for users to educate themselves against hate. 

Now, with multiple years of service under its belt, United Against Hate is looking to expand its reach by interacting more with Cook County’s younger citizens in 2026. 

“2026, I think, is going to be kind of focused on trying to do more with youth in schools and different types of outreach programs,” Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton said. “So I do think that, unfortunately, it does seem like it has been as difficult as it was [in 2024] to deal with a lot of the negativity and the really significant increase in hate crimes and hate incidents that we’ve seen in Cook County, and I hope that we can continue to that process throughout the whole time we’ve done, as much as we can.”

However, as hate crimes across the U.S. have increased by 100% since 2015, the federal government in Washington, D.C. and United Against Hate have reacted in different ways. In 2025, the coalition participated in United Against Hate Week in October and the Buffalo Grove Pride Parade in June while in April, the Department of Justice called off grants to organizations and governments that support hate crime prevention.

“I just feel like sometimes we’re moving against the flow of the stuff that’s coming from Washington,” Britton said. “And again, this sense initiative is nonpartisan. [United Against Hate] passed unanimously through the county board with Republican support. So I don’t want to try to depict this as somehow based on party politics, but there is a significant change, obviously, in the tenor of the government that has not helped.” 

Despite recent difficulties, Britton has continued to have a positive mindset about spreading United Against Hate’s message throughout the county. 

“We’re gonna continue to deal with the federal government that’s gonna be problematic, I have a feeling,” Brittion said. “And we’re gonna continue to deal with everything that comes from the immigration crackdown and the real fear that exists in our communities as to what’s going to happen next. So I think that’s going to be the biggest part of it. 

But you know what? We stand as a bulwark against some of the more extreme outreaches that have been taking place in our country, and we’re going to continue to do that, but it has been more difficult since January of 2025 to get this done.”

In January of 2025, United Against Hate worked with the Wilmette Public Library to host a panel discussion about civil rights during February with Village Trustee Gerry Smith, HRC Commissioner and Woolworth Lunch Counter Civil Rights Activist Van Gilmer, and New Trier Social Studies teacher Todd Maxman.

According to the Director of the Wilmette Public Library Anthony Austin, the Wilmette community “has been supportive” of the library’s work with United Against Hate. 

Since the New Trier Township signed the United Against Hate pledge in 2023, it has continued to support every community member, which fits in with their vision of being “welcoming, accessible, and dependable, providing a responsive local government resource that cares for all in [the New Trier] community” as well as United Against Hate’s belief that “hate has no home in Cook County.”

“Equity, fighting hate and ensuring an inclusive New Trier Township is a part of everything that we do,” New Trier Township Supervisor Gail Eisenberg said.

According to Eisenberg, the township signed the United Against Hate pledge in 2023 as a way to align with the township’s mission and support their population. Additionally, being Jewish herself, Eisenberg has found the United Against Hate’s goal helpful.

“It’s really helpful that people like Commissioner Britton, who’s not Jewish, is an ally,” Eisenberg said. “I think especially after October 7th, a lot of us felt like our allies abandoned us, and having individuals who don’t have skin in the game stand up for those who are marginalized makes a huge difference.” 

While United Against Hate continues to work with their partners in 2026, they continue to prioritize lowering the number of hate crimes in Cook County—no matter how small the number. 

“[United Against Hate is] a mission,” Britton said. “It’s a process and we’re going to keep working on it…but I do think we’ve made a difference and we’re going to keep working on it.”