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"Preventing Hate and Keeping You Up to Date"
December 2023
The Hate Crimes Training and Technical Assistance Program Newsletter Preventing Hate and Keeping You Up to Date is a monthly summary of research, articles, site highlights, and more. This publication is provided for program awardees' and project partners' information and awareness. Please contact info@hatecrimestta.org to submit a success story or resource for consideration in the newsletter.
General News
Community to Gather 25 Years After Death of College Student in Wyoming Hate Crime
Dozens gathered at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, to commemorate Matthew Shepard’s 1998 anti-gay hate crime murder. The annual service commemorated Shepard’s birthday and marked the 25th anniversary of his death. Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, suffered a brutal attack leading to his death five days later, gaining national attention. Shepard is one of the namesakes of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program, which provides funding to support initiatives to prevent, investigate, and prosecute hate crimes.
Healey Announces New Initiatives to Combat Hate Crimes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey launched the Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team (HART) to tackle rising hate crimes, allocating $462,000 to schools to reduce incidents of bias. According to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s 2022 Hate Crime report for Massachusetts, 440 hate crime incidents were reported in 2022, the highest number since 2002. State police vow tough strategies, emphasizing community ties amid the national surge in hate crimes.
Readout of Justice Department Leadership’s Meetings with Law Enforcement and Community Leaders
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is actively addressing the surge in threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities. Recent meetings with law enforcement and community leaders focused on collaborative strategies to combat hate-fueled violence, emphasizing the commitment to protecting communities from discrimination. Discussions extended to the challenges in law enforcement, with an emphasis on building strong partnerships and trust between communities and law enforcement. DOJ has allocated over $5.6 billion to support community safety, including grants to address hate crimes. Notably, $38 million has been announced to enhance hate crime investigations, reporting, victim services, and community awareness.
Hochul Touts ‘Media Literacy Toolkit’ for Kids Against ‘Misinformation’ as Hate Crimes Surge
New York Governor Kathy Hochel announced a plan to combat online hate, allocating $3 million to expand the state’s Threat Management and Assessment teams and develop a “media literacy toolkit” for grades K–12. The toolkit aims to teach students to identify misinformation and hate online. The initiative follows a surge in hate crimes against Jews, Muslims, and Arabs, coinciding with the Israel-Hamas conflict. The initiative will be handled by New York’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Domestic Terrorism Prevention Unit.
New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office Expands Civil Rights Unit Amid Rise in Hate Crime Reports
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella’s office is expanding its Civil Rights Unit in response to a significant increase in hate crimes. The unit, established in 2017 with one lawyer, will now include three additional staff to offer increased legal support. The move comes as reported acts of hate in New Hampshire surged by 450 percent in recent years (40 in 2017 to 186 in 2022). The expansion aims to enhance the office’s responsiveness to hate crimes, complaints, and bias incidents, establishing broader prosecution across the state.
Site Highlights
Additional Funding Given to Maryland Faith-Based Groups, Nonprofits for Hate Crime Prevention
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has allocated $1 million in state funding for hate crime prevention grants. Eligible organizations, including those serving protected classes and religious institutions, can apply for grants of up to $40,000 to hire security personnel. The funding aims to enhance safety for faith-based groups and nonprofits amid rising hate crimes. Governor Moore emphasized a commitment to ensuring the protection of all Marylanders and addressing concerns amid increased hate incidents.
Washington County DA’s Office Receives Additional Grant to Bolster Fight Against Bias Crime
The Washington County, Oregon, District Attorney’s Office received a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to supplement and strengthen its efforts against bias crimes. The funds will be used to hire an outreach coordinator to enhance public engagement and education initiatives in collaboration with the Washington County Bias Crime Multidisciplinary Team. The additional funding reflects a commitment to combat bias and hate crimes, promoting community safety and protection.
Special Interest
A New Policy Would Ban Chicago Police From Participating in Hate, Extremist Groups
A civilian-led oversight panel in Chicago, Illinois, unanimously approved a new policy banning police officers from “active participation” in hate and extremist groups. The policy expands on existing orders, specifying organizations officers should avoid. The policy awaits the police department’s response and may be subject to mayoral veto.
‘Hate Should Find No Harbor’: Easthampton Hate Crime Policy Updated by Mayor, Police Chief
Easthampton, Massachusetts, officials have updated the city’s Civil Rights Violations/Hate Crimes policy in response to new concerns. The changes are influenced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s classification system for hate crimes and civil rights violations. The policy now includes a broader understanding of hate crimes, acknowledging various forms of bias and intolerance. The update comes amid recent incidents of white supremacist pamphlets being distributed in Easthampton and Westfield. City officials emphasize the importance of training and awareness to eradicate hate in all its forms.
Inside STIC, the Illinois Terrorism Intelligence Agency Fighting Real and Viral Hoax Terror Threats
The Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) is a 24/7/365 all-crimes and all-hazards fusion center analyzing potential threats, hate crimes, and terrorism. The center, sponsored by the Illinois State Police, collaborates with state and federal agencies to address a variety of security concerns, focusing on real-time monitoring of activities such as hate crime attacks, bomb threats, and domestic lone-wolf strikes. Illinois has seen an increase in threats, including those against public infrastructure and religious institutions, with a surge in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents. The STIC is actively preparing for upcoming major events, emphasizing the importance of situational awareness and reporting potential threats for proper investigation.
Father of Chicago Suburban Boy Stabbed to Death Because He Was Muslim Files Lawsuit
The father of a 6-year-old Plainfield, Illinois, boy who was fatally stabbed in an alleged hate crime has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the accused attacker, Joseph Czuba, along with Czuba’s wife and their property management company. Czuba faces murder and hate crime charges, having allegedly attacked the family over their Muslim faith. He has pleaded not guilty.
This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-21-GK-02977-HATE awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART).
Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
