WASHINGTON (AP) – Societies must offer an “affirmative alternative” to extremism for immigrant communities, Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday as he opened a three-day White House summit aimed at countering the spread of violent extremism across the globe.
Biden said solutions must go beyond military force and that “inclusion counts.”
The summit comes as the Islamic State group and a series of deadly attacks in Denmark, France, Canada and Australia have raised global fears about extremism and the radicalization of young people.
Biden took part in a round-table discussion with local leaders from Boston, Los Angeles and Minneapolis. The three cities have programs to counter extremism that the White House wants to promote as examples.
President Barack Obama plans to address representatives from about 60 countries attending the summit Thursday.