‘Break the Hate’ event takes place Saturday in Rochester

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – On Saturday, Rochester's city and state officials got together for a forum against racism and hate.

The forum, called "Break the Hate," has the goal of creating unity and promoting change in the face of hate.

The forum welcomed in several guests, which included Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

The forum took place not long after previous acts of hate in Rochester. For Ellison, he hopes that other communities can look at incidents like the ones seen in Rochester and find ways to diminish those acts of hate, such as the forum on Saturday.

"What we really want to do is encourage people to have conversations within communities and to say 'Hey, you know, I know you think that's funny, but that might not be funny if it happened to you,'" Ellison said. "So why don't we start talking now?"

The forum also welcomed in a panel, which included author and anti-hate activist Christian Picciolini.

Picciolini is a former neo nazi who has walked away from that movement and now uses his experience to keep people from joining groups like the one he was a part of.

"I've spent the last 30 years of my life really atoning for that past and trying to teach people what I learned during those years and what I've done is specifically try to help people disengage from hate groups," Picciolini said. "It's a sense of identity, community and purpose."

Rochester NAACP Branch President Wale Elegbede says that other events similar to the one held Saturday are currently being planned.