By Justin Kwasa In 2016, law enforcement agencies in Illinois reported a combined 123 hate crimes to the FBI Uniform Crime Report. That’s more than two crimes inspired by hate happening in the state every single week. As shocking as that statistic is, we know that this number is probably underreported. While Illinois has a better state law than most, there are still many investigators and prosecutors across the state that do not have access to adequate training on how to build
Every month we feature one thing you can do to help strengthen your community and combat hate. This month our action item is: participate in a bystander intervention training. The Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition developed a Bystander Intervention Training to help address the rise of hate crimes and harassment experienced by communities across
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 3, 2018 Washington, DC The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has taken successful action to shut down Richard Spencer’s Altright.com website. In April 2018 the Lawyers’ Committee issued a demand letter to GoDaddy.com alerting the company to the fact that Altright.com was using their services to incite violence, threats, or other unlawful activities targeting minorities and women. Altright.com is a major white supremacist website owned and operated by Richard Spencer, a leader of white nationalists and the alt-right movement.
Students across the country have experienced an increase in hate, bullying, and harassment. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, hate crime incidents in schools (K-12 and college) increased from 472 in 2014 to 485 in 2015, and jumped to over 600 in 2016. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance program conducted an online survey of K-12 educators in the aftermath of the 2016 election. The survey showed an increase in targeting
Join or host a community meeting – big or small – that brings together individuals of diverse backgrounds to learn about the experiences of those directly affected by hate. By centering those who have experienced hate crimes and hate incidents, we learn more about the effect of hate and the needs of those targeted. Use the meeting as an opportunity to learn from and provide support to fellow community members. Come to the meeting with a sense of some of
Hundreds of organizations across the country work to combat hate every day. By pushing back against bigotry, serving as a much-needed support network for their members, and providing direct services to those in need, organizations on the ground work day-in and day-out to make their communities safe and welcoming places for all. As part of the Stop Hate Project’s mission, we work to strengthen the capacity of local communities to combat hate. This includes supporting and lifting up the work of
A “Ku klux starter pack,” featuring a noose, a burning torch, a black doll, and a white hood. A screenshot of an African-American student juxtaposed with an image of a white man beating a black slave hung by his hands. A picture of a high school student and the high school basketball coach, both of whom are African-American, with nooses drawn around their necks. Multiple comparisons of African-American women and students to gorillas. These were the vile racist and sexist images
By Nazia Mian As part of our Bullying Prevent Month of Action in October, the Lawyers’ Committee launched the National “I Am Stronger Than Hate” Art Competition for children in K-12 schools across the country. School children submitted original drawings that demonstrate how they are stronger than hate. Discussions about bullying, hate, and intolerance can be difficult. Having children use their creativity to express how they are stronger than hate is just one example of how parents and teachers can
The Stop Hate Project and Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Columbia Legal Services in Washington expressed concern regarding the Bellevue School District’s response to the bullying and harassment of Ardmore Elementary student Nasir Andrews. The letter was sent in September 2017. Click here to read the letter to the Bellevue School District.