Friend,
In their just-released 2020 annual hate crime report, the FBI recorded
7,759 hate crimes - the highest number in a dozen years. The
numbers reveal a 6 percent increase from 2019, with deeply-disturbing
increases in attacks against Black (a 43 percent increase) and Asian
(a 53 percent increase) victims. The FBI also documented a sharp,
disturbing escalation in gender-identity-based hate crimes, which
increased 19 percent following an 18 percent increase in 2019.
The numbers do not speak for themselves. The impact of each hate crime
does not end with its devastating consequences for the victim and
their loved ones. Behind each and every one of the reported crimes is
a victim of violence, intimidation or vandalism - targeted for
their race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, gender
identity or sexual orientation. These hate crimes tear at the fabric
of our communities and cause members of targeted groups to fear for
their safety each day.
Although these numbers paint a stark picture of hate in our country,
they are notably incomplete. Hate crime reporting from law enforcement
agencies has declined for the past three years, and almost 80 cities
with a population over 100,000 either affirmatively reported zero hate
crimes or did not report any data to the FBI at all. When members of
marginalized or targeted groups do not feel safe reporting hate
crimes, or when the law enforcement agency to whom they report does
not respond accordingly, we cannot fight them
effectively.?? That's why one of the most important
actions each of us can take to prevent hate crimes in our communities
is to hold our leaders accountable. We all must call on elected
officials and local leaders to speak out against hate and extremism
and take proactive steps to urge police departments to improve their
hate crime reporting and prevention programs.
But, we cannot outlaw hate. We're working to create
long-term solutions to hate violence by helping educators foster more
inclusive school communities and inspiring students to take those
lessons outward. SPLC's Learning for Justice program
provides educators with free resources that can help counter hate in
schools. Responding to Hate and Bias at School is a guide for
administrators, counselors and teachers with guidance on responding to
a bias incident or hate crime. The guide can help educators assess
their school climates to prevent hate incidents and put plans in place
for responding during and after a crisis. The guide also includes an
accompanying professional development webinar for educators.
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In LFJ's webinar Combating Online Youth Radicalization, with
co-hosts from SPLC's Intelligence Project and American
University's Polarization and Extremism Research Innovation Lab
(PERIL), educators can learn about combating the radicalization of
young people online. The webinar covers the relationship between
digital literacy and radicalization, warning signs and the ways online
hate affects targeted groups. In addition to directly addressing the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radicalization efforts, the webinar
also provides tools for intervening with vulnerable students and
responding when incidents occur.
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Digital and civic literacy skills are key tools for young people in
resisting and countering online hate and extremism. Learning for
Justice's Digital Literacy Framework offers seven key areas in
which students need support developing digital and civic literacy
skills. The framework includes K-12 lessons, classroom videos and The
Mind Online podcast for educators.
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This LFJ article offers information for educators about our ally
Western States Center's Confronting White Nationalism in Schools
toolkit and explains how educators can play a critical role in
recognizing and addressing white nationalism.
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In solidarity,
Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center
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