How to Stop Hate Crimes

Whether it's a crime based on ethnicity, race or sexual orientation, hate crimes are an insult to humanity. They go against our basic human right to be different. Hate crimes go beyond racial slurs or discrimination. They include physical injury, kidnapping, sexual assault and murder. Here are some steps you can take to stop hate crimes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Educate yourself about hate crime statistics. You'll stop these heinous crimes more effectively when you know what you're dealing with.
2. Act quickly and decisively when you witness a situation that might turn into a hate crime. Racial slurs between white and black students on campus can quickly turn into something worse. A party with both gays and straights can get dangerous when some people have a few too many drinks.
3. Lobby both state and federal government. Encourage leaders to address hate crimes in their speeches to the community. Use the Petitions Online website to create a petition championing stronger hate crime laws.
4. Organize demonstrations against hate crimes. Stage a protest rally and have experts speak out against it. March in your state capital or Washington, DC, to educate people about this problem.
5. Contact your local media when you hear of a hate crime that didn't get the coverage it deserved. Regional newspapers, alternative publications, radio stations and cable TV networks appreciate stories like these because they carry broad relevance for the community.
6. Set up a webpage to speak out against intolerance. A blog is another way to rally support for your cause. Report on local incidents people may not hear about, as well as stories reported in the national news.
7. Teach your children tolerance so they stop hate crimes before they start. The Southern Poverty Law Center set up the Tolerance website with resources for teachers, parents, kids and teens.

Tips & Warnings

• People against hate speech laws will tell you they're a violation of free speech, so be prepared to counter this argument.