The "Not On Our Ground" Pledge

Not In Our Town (NIOT)—an advocacy nonprofit based out of Oakland, California, and a friend of Teaching Tolerance—works to “stop hate, address bullying and build safe, inclusive communities for all.” Earlier this year, NIOT announced an exciting campaign called “Not On Our Ground” in partnership with the Golden State Warriors and Adobe. This campaign urges Warriors fans to publically take a stand against bullying, violence and hate. But the campaign isn’t limited to Warriors fans; sports fans, community members, educators and students across the United States are getting involved, too!

At the heart of this campaign is the following pledge:

I pledge to stand up to all forms of hate, bigotry and bullying. I will not stay silent in the face of intolerance based on race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, religion, ability or any other factor. I will work together with my neighbors to create safer, more inclusive communities for all. 

NIOT Director Dr. Becki Cohn-Vargas says, “The ‘Not On Our Ground’ pledge reminds all of us, youth and adults alike, to be upstanders who speak up when someone is being harmed or when they see someone being bullied or harassed. When educators work with students to take the pledge against bullying, violence and hate, they can spread a positive message to their peers.”

In a PSA titled "Not On Our Ground, Not In Our Town,” Warriors players Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Shaun Livingston and Coach Steve Kerr publicly share their commitment to stand up to bullying. Jointly, they say, “Life isn’t a game. And what you say in life affects people in a real way. Whether it’s online or in person, at the office or at school, physical, verbal and cyber bullying is a real problem. … Bullying should never be tolerated.”

Interested in taking the “Not On Our Ground” pledge and joining this movement of upstanders? Here are three things you—and your students—can do.

1. Take the pledge and invite your faculty members and student body to do the same. 
2. Spread the word online. For example, take a picture with the pledge card, showing your commitment on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! Remember to include #NotOnOurGround in your post.
3. Work with students to share the pledge with local sports teams in your area, and invite these teams to speak up against bullying.

When members of the community—no matter how visible—work together to end hate and bullying, local schools and neighborhoods become safer and more welcoming. The pledge can amplify these efforts and spread their influence across the country, bringing thousands of young people together in a shared commitment to kindness and inclusion.