• November 15, 1998 – The spray-painting of an Anderson-area family’s home with swastikas.
• January 24, 1999 – Twenty-one churches spoke out by signing a declaration that decried this action, called for respect and tolerance, and encouraged their congregations to actively confront hatred.
• August – December, 1999 – Hate literature from two national white supremacist groups, Matt Hale’s Creativity Movement from East Peoria, Illinois and William Pierce’s Alliance from West Virginia, was dropped in several area driveways on several occasions.

Responding to these events, area residents formed GAPP with their first initiatives:

• October 28, 1999 – Cor Suijk, Director Emeritus of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, spoke at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church to 300 people. Mr. Suijk, a Christian who hid Jews in his home during the Holocaust, spoke on “What Is Courage?” He challenged listeners to speak out against intolerance and replace it with acceptance.
• November, 1999 – A Peace Pole was approved for an area park. The Anderson Township Trustees and the Anderson Park Board approved the placing of a public sculpture, a Peace Pole, in Beech Acres Park on Forest Road.

Since that time, GAPP has accomplished many steps toward promoting tolerance and respect in the area. See our Activities page for more info.