Ari Kohen

Tell us about you:

I’m a university professor, a local activist and volunteer, a husband, and a parent. I have been working as an antiracist activist on the local and the national level for more than 20 years, mostly around the issues of death penalty abolition and criminal justice reform, but also around any and all endeavors that lesson prejudice and bigotry. 

How do you act to build the world you want to see?

I have worked on human rights issues with national organizations like Amnesty International, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and the Journey of Hope…From Violence to Healing. I also teach courses on human rights, on ethnic conflict, and on restorative justice. Perhaps most importantly, I spend most of my time trying to teach my children to make the best possible choices they can make and, above all, to be kind.

What do you believe we’re collectively learning in 2020?

My hope is that we’re learning how important elections are, and not just nationally but also state and local elections. I also hope that we’re seeing the power that ongoing demonstrations can have in moving the way that people think about big issues, like policing. Sustaining interest in these issues, especially in parts of the community that aren’t directly impacted, is very difficult. But I think we’re seeing, all over the country, the kind of impact that demonstrations can have when they last for a long time and focus the attention of so many people on issues that have been ignored or pushed to the side for many, many years. 

 What advice do you have for folks who want to step into advocacy but aren't sure how?

My biggest piece of advice is to show up and listen. There are many, many people in your community who have been working in this space for a long time and they’ll be happy for your support and assistance.

Contact Info: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kohenari; Twitter: @kohenari