It's no secret that our religious symbols (runes, staves, etc.) have been co-opted by both individuals and groups as a means to spread hate. Though these instances only account for a minority of the heathen community, they have, unfortunately, become an increasingly vocal minority. With that vocalization has come attention, both positive and negative. The heathen community is slowly entering the public spotlight, and the misuse of the faith being highlighted by the media means that now more than ever, it's important for us to be just as vocal.
 

The argument can be made that apathy toward hatred and intolerance is the same as acceptance. Whether or not this is true, it's undeniable that apathy solves nothing. We can watch from the sidelines, but that'll do nothing to stem the tide of hatred.

So what can we do?

It's time to stand up. We need to set aside our petty differences to stand united against adversity. It's time to swallow pride and put the community first. Disputes between groups that share the common goal of helping the heathen community to thrive need to be laid to rest. Labeling, infighting, and finger-pointing are getting us nowhere, while the fires blaze all around us.

It's time we put an end to it.

In 2016, many of us in the heathen community banded together to sign Huginn's Heathen Hof's Declaration 127, a public statement that we did not agree with the AFA's expressed views on race, gender, and sexuality. This was an important step in the right direction and brought many of us in the community together. However, since the signing of Declaration 127, hatred and bigotry have spread like a disease. It's no longer any one organization that we should be worried about. Let's take a closer look at Havamal stanza 127, which Declaration 127 is based on.

"Wherever you know of harm

regard that harm as your own;
give your enemies no peace."
- Havamal 127

This is one of many popular interpretations, but the subtle difference in wording is important. It's no longer enough to see harm and speak out against it. We need to look upon harm being done as if it were being done to us. Humans are naturally empathetic beings, and it's time we started listening to that part of our nature. We're all smaller pieces of a greater whole; any harm done to one is done to all of us.

So where are we going with all of this?

This is a public call to action for ALL members of the heathen community willing to stand against hate and intolerance.

With all the negativity circulating both within and outside of the heathen community, we recognize that people are frustrated, angry, and feeling helpless.

We need to stand together as fellow children of Midgard. Be active, be vocal, show those who abuse our faith that we will not be silenced. We will not stand by while they continue abusing our faith and enforcing negative stereotypes. We will go out in to our communities and be a force for positive change. We will extend a hand of fellowship to all willing to stand together against the tide of hatred. We will form a Shieldwall.

By no means is Shieldwall a singular movement orchestrated entirely by one organization. It's an idea. Like any idea, it's only as powerful as those who believe in it. It's also a tool. Like any tool, it's only as effective as the person using it. For Shieldwall to work, every member must participate. This is a collective international effort, and we cannot micromanage every region. It's up to the heathen community, up to you, to suit action to words. Go out and find others, organize, volunteer, work within your community as the smaller part of a greater whole.

We believe the potential is there, that it only takes a nudge of initiative from an individual to bring people together to create change. We hope to mend the harm that's been done to the heathen community. We will support each other in the hopes that we may give others the strength to stand up and fight. We will link ourselves together and stand strong to hold the line against the darkness. Together, we will strive to create a brighter future for the generations to come.

To summarize the mission statement of Shieldwall:
Shieldwall is an effort to unite the heathen community.

Together we denounce all those abusing our faith to spread hatred and negativity.

By signing on, you're making a statement. A statement that you will not stand for hatred. You will not sit idly by as our cultural and religious symbols are dragged through the mud. You are stating you will go out in to the world and strive to make it a better place. Most importantly, you are stating you're an ally to all who are oppressed or in need.

We encourage other organizations and groups to stand with us.

To register your Kindred, Business, Organization, Page, and/or Group's support for Shieldwall, CLICK HERE!

To register your personal individual support and to join the Shieldwall, CLICK HERE!

Remember:

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Our gods are bigger than our differences.