What Can I Do About Hate Incidents and Hate Crimes?

Recognize It

Hate incidents are activities of a non-criminal nature, such as: name calling, speech making, demonstrations, distribution of printed materials that are intentionally designed to defame individuals of a group because of their race, ethnic background, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Hate crimes are those attacks on an individual or his or her property in which the victim is intentionally selected because of his or her race, ethnic background, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation age or disability. Acts of violence and prejudice that can be prosecuted by the local District Attorney or by the California Attorney General are:

Damage to a persons property
Vandalism               Arson
Assault                     Murder
Intimidation             Violence
Violence                    Injury
Harassment            Threats
Slander

Assault is a common occurrence in our communities, today. An assault that takes place during a robbery of course is a crime, but not a hate crime. But an assault that is accompanied by derogatory reference to the race, ethnic background, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability of the victim is deemed to be motivated by bigotry, and is considered a hate crime.

Assist and Support Hate Crime Victims

Recognize that victims of hate tend to feel especially vulnerable because they have been attacked simply because of who they are. Hate incidents and hate crimes penetrate the very heart of an individual's sense of self by saying "Who you are is not acceptable." It is up to each of us to assure victims that they are valued members of our community.

Visit or call hate incident and crime victims to show that you are concerned about them and want to help. If the crime includes damage to property, coordinate a neighborhood repair and cleanup effort. This not only demonstrates support for victims, but also lets the perpetrators see that bigotry and intolerance are not accepted in the community.

In cases involving injuries to the victim, offer to assist with activities of daily living until the victim can resume his or her normal activities.

Respond to hate incidents and crimes that occur on school campuses through a coordinated effort the school principal or president. A presentation or facilitated dialogue on the harmful effects of bigotry and intolerance could heighten community understanding and healing.

Report Hate Incidents and Hate Crime

In addition to providing personal support for hate crime victims hate incident and hate crime victims, one of the best responses is to assist victims in reporting. Contact

Law Enforcement	911
Anti-Hate Hotline*	408-279-0111
Network for a Hate-Free Community	408-792-2304
Dept. Of Fair Employment & Housing	1-800-460-4357

Help victims to understand that providing information may increase the chances that the perpetrator of hate incidents
and hate crimes will be identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Reporting a hate incident or hate crime often provides victims with the chance to express their concerns, fears, anger, or other emotions. It will also facilitate the victims' realization that they are not alone or responsible for the incident or criminal act perpetrated against them. These important steps also enable victims to begin the healing process.

The Network for a Hate Free Community recognizes that fear of reprisal may be a real concern for the victim or the witness of a hate incident or hate crime. Therefore the Anti-Hate Hotline and the Network for a Hate-Free Community will accept anonymous calls with the understanding that an investigation and supportive follow up may be very limited.

Seek Police Support

Most Law enforcement agencies train their officers to recognize hate incidents and hate crimes and to respond in a sensitive manner. But occasionally a victim may perceive that an officer has acted inappropriately. If one officer appears to behave insensitively, it is possible to find a more sensitive officer to respond to the incident or crime. If a police report has been taken, help victims to ensure that the acts have been identified as hate incidents or hate crimes.

Ask for additional law enforcement patrol during the next few weeks. Their presence can increase the victim's peace of mind and decrease the probability of a repeat attack. Encourage law enforcement personnel to keep victims informed about the status of hate incident and hate crime investigations. Ask law enforcement personnel to consult with victims about security and about establishing a Neighborhood Watch program.

Help Form a Neighborhood Watch Program

An effective response to hate incidents and hate crimes is the organization of a Neighborhood Watch program. Participation is Neighborhood Watch meetings will give the victims a sense of support and security. It also demonstrates to law enforcement that the community is concerned about hate incidents and hate crime and expects law enforcement to share that concern.

A Neighborhood Watch program can also be very effective in building community cohesiveness, as neighbors all work together toward the goal of acceptance of diverse and safer neighborhoods.

Work to Prevent Hate Incidents and Hate Crime

Prevention of hate incidents and hate crime is a long-term endeavor. It requires broad-based support and effort to create a hate-free community in the workplace, schools and our neighborhoods.

You may decide to support the efforts of Santa Clara County's Network for a Hate-Free Community. The Network offers training on reporting and responding to hate incidents and hate crime, diversity education, referrals to culturally sensitive service organizations, referrals to mediation and dispute resolution and opportunities to serve on three action oriented committees: Community Justice, Community Education and School Based Education.

Speak out against acts of hate. The perpetrators of hate incidents and hate crimes think they are acting on behalf of others who feel as they do. It is your job, as a concerned member of the your community, to speak out and let them know otherwise.

When a hate crime takes place in your workplace, school or neighborhood, share your concern and distress immediately. Be supportive of the victim. Let the victim know that you care and are concerned.

Do not remain silent and passive when racist, sexist, homophobic or other offensive comments; actions or jokes take place within your community.

You cannot control how or when hate incidents and hate crimes happen. You can control how you and your neighbors and colleagues respond to the victim. Let the entire community know that such acts will not be tolerated.

America is one of the most diverse societies in the world. What affects one group will ultimately affect another. We must all learn to speak openly about the harm that prejudice, intolerance, defamation and violence does to the fabric of our society.