Tired of being associated with racist groups, the below public declaration was composed by music producer Scott Hoffman and passed around town for signatures, in January of 2006. A few days yielded between 1,100 and 1,200 signatures, and that is when Hoffmann placed it in the Harrison Daily Times as a full page ad. Here is that declaration and some of the names of those who signed that page.

“We the undersigned citizens of Harrison, Arkansas, and surrounding areas do hereby denounce the blatant racism and bigotry of a very small minority in our community. We stand for respect, harmony and acceptance of all people. We do not want the fine city of Harrison, and its citizens to continue to be known worldwide as tolerant of hatred, racism and bigotry. By signing, we declare that we will remain SILENT NO MORE on this issue and will continue to speak out and change this perception of our town.

The hidden history of Chinese Americans who were run out of towns across the West had a counter-part: In dozens of other towns in the South, North, and Midwest during the early 20th Century, African-Americans also endured to widespread violence and angry white mobs. An Arkansas journalist gives details on this particular history.

About The Task Force

Our Vision Statement: ”We know Harrison , Arkansas as a community where people of all races can live, work and worship together in peace and harmony and we envision a time when our community is similarly perceived by all.”

Our Mission Statement: “Our purpose is to respond to an inaccurate, negative image, namely that Harrison is a racist community. We want to foster and promote the image and reality of Harrison as a cohesive, warm community to all people of peace and goodwill, regardless of race.”

Our Core Values: Equality, opportunity, economy, prosperity, justice, security, dignity, fellowship, community, inclusiveness.

What We Believe:

• We believe that all people are created equal and are precious in God’s sight.
• We believe that all visitors to our community should be treated with warmth, dignity and respect.
• We believe in opening the doors of opportunity to all people who choose to reside in our community.
• We believe reconciliation will be accompanied by actions that reflect a changed heart.
• We believe that “Now is the time to rise…to the sunlit path of racial justice.” (I Have A Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.) and that in doing so our souls will be lifted.
• We believe that now is the time to “humbly seek the blessings of Providence for forgiveness, reconciliation, unity and charity for all people of the United States, thereby assisting the Nation to realize its potential as a champion of Hope, the vindicator of the defenseless and guardian of freedom.”

Risks If We Do Not Act:

• Those who hope for a more benevolent and tolerant image of our community may be silenced.
• Harrison may be perceived as a haven for white racists.
• Our economy may suffer because of the image.
• We may pay the price in lost tourism.
• Opportunities to host sporting events and tournaments may be lost.
• Industries may choose to leave, or refuse to consider locating here because of past actions and current attitudes toward people of color.

Rewards If We Act:

• Our economy will diversify and flourish.
• Our vision will be realized, our mission fulfilled, and freedom will reign in our community.

Organizational Structure: We propose to approach the attainment of our vision and mission through goals, objectives, strategies and tactics. We will create five committees which will function as “spokes”, radiating out from the hub (the total Task Force) to the rim (the community at large). The five “spokes” will address the business, educational, governmental, religious and cultural aspects of our work within our community. Each committee will develop its own set of strategic goals, objectives, strategies and tactics through which to attain and realize our vision as it applies to each committee’s are of concentration.

Goal #1 - To respond creatively to inaccurate, negative images of Harrison , so that through our response, these images are negated.

Objective #1: To develop resources for interpreting the Harrison community, both within and beyond our community.

Strategy #1: Each “spoke” committee will develop resources for its own work, and will pass those resources on to the total Task Force.
Strategy #2: The total Task Force will work to coordinate and network the work of the “spoke” committees into a cohesive, comprehensive plan of action.

Objective #2: To develop and nurture sources of advocacy within the formal and informal structures of influence within the community.

Strategy #1: Each “spoke” committee will develop and nurture sources of advocacy for its own work, and will pass those resources on to the total task force.
Strategy #2: The total Task Force will work to coordinate and network the work of the “spoke” committees into a cohesive, comprehensive plan of action.

Objective #3: To tell our story, rather than allowing other to tell it for us.

Strategy #1: Each “spoke” committee will develop ways to tell our story from the perspective of its own area of concentration, and will work to merge its story with the story told by the total Task Force.
Strategy #2: The total Task Force will work to coordinate and network the work of the “spoke” committees into a cohesive, comprehensive plan of action.

Goal #2 - To develop and promote a positive image of Harrison as a cohesive, warm community open to all people of peace and good will.

Objective #1: Drawing from the resources developed in Goal #1, Objective #1, and the advocacy developed in Goal #1, Objective #2, create concrete, tangible and interactive ways to involve the maximum number of Harrison citizens in recognizing, accepting and sharing the positive image within our own community.

Objective #2: Drawing from the resources developed in Goal #1, Objective #1, and the advocacy developed in Goal #1, Objective #2, create concrete, tangible and interactive ways to invite and involve visitors, tourists, new residents and guests of Harrison , including media representatives, in recognizing, and sharing the positive image beyond our own community.