Overview
About This Mini-Lesson
On March 15, a gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, during Friday services, killing 50 people. This devastating attack was designed to spread fear globally. Horrifyingly, the perpetrator live streamed part of the shooting.
Based on what we know now, it appears that the perpetrator was motivated by white nationalist ideology, meaning these acts of violence share a common thread with many similar attacks in recent years, including those in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Charleston, South Carolina; Portland, Oregon; and Olathe, Kansas, in the United States, as well as in Toulouse, France; Oslo, Norway; and Munich, Germany. This is not an exhaustive list. The world is witnessing a rise in white nationalist and extreme right wing organizing. The Southern Poverty Law Center has documented a significant increase in the number of hate groups operating in the United States over the last decade.
The following activities are designed to help you and your students reflect on the attack in Christchurch. They can be used individually or together.