10 ways to respond when a hate crime or incident occurs in your community
When hate crimes or hate incidents occur, everyone has a stake in ensuring an effective response. Individuals and communities must be prepared. For example, the most recent FBI hate crime report documented record-high levels of hate violence in the U.S. But how should you and your community respond? With October designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as Hate Crimes Awareness Month, it is the perfect time to consider that question.
Here are steps to effectively respond – and prevent future incidents.
Act to support the victims
Ensure that victims and their communities know that they are seen. In the face of hatred, apathy may be interpreted as acceptance by the perpetrators, the public and, worst of all, the people targeted. Community members must take action to condemn the hate and support victims. Let those targeted by a hate crime know you care.
Report the crime
If you’ve experienced a hate crime, report it to the police or to community leaders in detail – and ask for help. In the aftermath of a bias-motivated crime, demand a quick, serious police response.
Join forces
Reach out to allies from places of worship, schools, clubs and other civic groups. Create a diverse coalition to condemn the hate. Include community leaders, government officials and the media. Targeted communities must know they are not alone.
Speak up
Hate must be exposed and denounced. Help news organizations covering the incident understand the harms hate crimes have on the community and why they must be addressed. Do not debate hate group members, which only adds to the attention they seek.
Create an alternative
In the face of a hate rally, hold a unity rally or parade to draw media attention away from hate. Find another outlet for anger, frustration and people’s desire to do something to condemn and repudiate the haters.
Educate yourself
Hate groups can ignite tensions and divide communities through their use of inflammatory and bigoted language and actions. An informed awareness campaign can effectively unmask hate groups and thwart their outreach. The SPLC’s Year in Hate & Extremism 2023 report and other resources on extremism can help expose these groups and their bigotry.
Use your power
Elected officials and other community leaders can be important allies. But some must overcome reluctance – and others, their own biases – before they’re able to take a stand. Educate community leaders about the causes and effects of hate. Encourage leaders to name the problem and firmly denounce it. Push leaders to ensure language access and culturally competent responses.
Build resilience
Radicalization is learned early, often at home. Use tools designed for parents and caregivers to help recognize warning signs and intervene with young people who may be susceptible to hate group propaganda and prejudice. Build networks of trusted adults to help combat radicalization.
Stay engaged
Promote acceptance, address bias and embrace our nation’s diversity as a strength. Expand your social network by reaching out to people outside your own social groups.
Dig deeper
Look inside yourself for biases. Commit to disrupting hate and intolerance at home, at school, in the workplace and in faith communities.
Picture at top: With the FBI reporting record-high levels of hate violence in the U.S., community members must take action to condemn hate and support victims. (Credit: SPLC)
