Eric K. Ward
Civil Rights Strategist
Eric K. Ward, Executive Vice President of Race Forward, is a nationally-recognized expert on the relationship between authoritarian movements, hate violence, and preserving inclusive democracy. He brings over three decades of leadership in community organizing and philanthropy to Race Forward, having worked with leaders from government, law enforcement, business, and civil rights groups to advance civil rights work. Eric serves on the boards of several organizations and was the recipient of the 2021 Civil Courage Prize – the first American in the award’s 21-year history.
Appears in
Reboot Studios
We’ve Been Here Before
We’ve Been Here Before connects the dots between mass shootings, the rise in anti-semitism, and the rise in hate violence in America in a fresh way. It follows the work of Eric Ward, a renowned expert on the relationship between authoritarian movements, hate violence, and preserving inclusive democracy. Ward was in the punk rock subculture when neo-Nazi’s infiltrated the punk scene in the 1980’s and 90’s. The short documentary film, by Jacob Kornbluth and a part of Reboot Studios’ latest round of funding, is a deep dive into the punk subculture that fought back against White Nationalists and neo-Nazis, and the lessons they have to share with the larger struggle against hate not just in America, but the world. Learn more here.
Reboot Ideas
Reboot Ideas: Democracy Thrives in Light
Too often the fights for equity and justice ignite surprising and new altercations. Why are long-held allies fracturing? What are we not seeing? With Eric K. Ward, nationally recognized expert on authoritarian movements, and movement pioneer, Ilyse Hogue, Reboot Ideas illuminated the cracks where white supremacy, antisemitism and misogyny jeopardize our social fabric and help shape the multiracial, inclusive democracy that we strive for. This conversation was introduced by Reboot board member and strategy consultant, Brina Milikowsky. Watch here.