Shaheen Congratulates UNH Students on Proposal to Counter Violent Extremism

(Durham, NH) – This morning, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lead Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, met with marketing students at the University of New Hampshire who have developed a media campaign proposal for the State Department on how to counter violent extremism in communities and online. The Department of State provided grants to students across the country to develop anti-extremism media campaign proposals. The students at UNH will compete against 25 other schools for a trip to Washington, DC to present their plan to the State Department. Senator Shaheen attended the student’s presentation of their final proposal and, afterwards, gave remarks.

“Unfortunately, the internet has become the primary channel for inspiring hate and violence around the world, and young people are particularly vulnerable,” said Shaheen. “It’s critical to have their input and perspective as our nation combats violent extremism. Recent shootings across the country underscore just how important this effort is. I really appreciated the opportunity to see the culmination of these student’s hard work and congratulate them on their innovative proposal.”

Senator Shaheen has been vocal about the need to counter violent extremism on the internet as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and the Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. The students laid out a plan that incorporates social media, a teaching curriculum and a public pledge, called the Pax Pledge, to help young people resist radicalization.