Anti-Hate Action Center

Hate crimes not only impact the immediate victims but others like them. Hate crimes affect families, communities and the nation. Hate crime laws provide for enhanced penalties. The Illinois Hate Crimes Act elevates certain crimes that would otherwise be categorized as misdemeanors to felonies, which carry stiffer penalties. The Illinois Hate Crimes Act also ensures that victims have the ability to file civil hate crime claims against the perpetrator. Under Illinois law, perpetrators of hate crimes are also subject to enhanced penalties if their criminal acts are committed in places of worship, schools, cemeteries, or parks.

“Hate incident” is a term that is being used to describe actions or behaviors motivated by hate. Hate incidents may or may not be crimes. Unlike the term “hate crime,” there is no formal legal definition for “hate incident”. Examples of hate incidents include: name-calling, insults, distributing hate material in public places, and displaying hate material on one’s own property.

Reporting and sharing your experience is YOUR choice.

There are many reasons people choose to report a hate crime or incident. The following are some reasons to report:

• Reporting a hate crime may result in prosecution and accountability. When a crime is classified as a hate crime, the offender can face more severe penalties.
• Reporting can lead to a helpful connection and make you feel less alone. Remember there are people who want to help. Survivors are empowered to take back some control of the situation.
• When you report, you might be helping to prevent these incidents from happening to someone else.
• Reporting and tracking both hate crimes and incidents provide more accurate information to law enforcement and community organizations, which can improve their response to hate crimes.
• Some hate crimes start as smaller incidents which may escalate into more serious and frequent attacks.
• Every report matters, even if you think it is not significant.

You can make anonymous hate crime or hate incident reports to CASL’s Anti-Hate Action Center through an online form, or by phone. This is only for data collection.

Though there is no universal set of steps that will work for everyone, the following actions may help if you have been a victim of a hate crime or incident.

Secure Your Safety

The first priority is to ensure your physical safety.

• IN AN EMERGENCY, DIAL 911. You can state your preferred language for translation services.
• Seek medical attention, if necessary.
• If witnesses are present, ask them for support or intervention.

Make a Record

Record what happened with as much detail as possible. A record can be important if you choose to pursue legal action.

• Record what happened, including the time, date, location, and description of the perpetrator(s).
• If anyone saw what happened, record their name and contact information.
• Photograph any physical injuries, offensive graffiti, property damage or other evidence.
• Keep and make copies of all documentation (e.g., hate mail or recordings of hate calls). 

Seek Support and Report

If you have been affected by a hate crime or hate incident, know that you are not alone.

Report to a Community Organization for Support Services

Community organizations may be able to provide support and resources such as finding medical or counseling services, communicating with law enforcement, helping you understand your rights, connecting you to an attorney, and identifying a support network for victims and families. CASL’s Anti-Hate Action Center works to ensure that survivors of hate have access to comprehensive services, using a trauma informed care approach.

Report to Law Enforcement for Investigation and Prosecution

Hate crimes are against the law. Perpetrators may be subject to criminal and civil liability. Victims and witnesses have the right to report to law enforcement. When reporting to law enforcement, it is important to specify that you are reporting a hate crime, as some agencies are required to follow certain procedures to ensure that hate crime reports are comprehensively investigated. You can request your preferred language for translation services.

Report to:

• Local Police Department
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Illinois Attorney General’s Office 
• Illinois Department of Human Rights