State introduces Help Stop Hate program in response to increasing hate crime

_{Governor JB Pritzker}

Amid global tensions and a highly partisan presidential campaign that further fuels divisions among Americans, Illinois is launching the Help Stop Hate program to combat the sharp increase in hate crimes across the state.

“We are here today to officially launch Help Stop Hate, a new resource that will help protect and empower victims and witnesses of hate incidents through a free, confidential and multilingual service,” Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday a press conference in Chicago.

According to the Chicago branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, there has been a 196% increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in Chicago since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Anti-Defamation League reports a 379% increase. Increase in anti-Semitic incidents since 2019 in Illinois.

“As the governor of this great state, as a human being, and as someone who has stood up against hate my entire life, I am appalled by this trend. Horrified,” Pritzker said.

This program was announced as the number of hate crime incidents has reached a record high since the FBI began collecting data in 1991. In a recent example, an Orthodox Jewish man was shot and killed on Saturday as he entered a synagogue in West Rogers Park this weekend. Although the crime remains under investigation, the governor said he fears anti-Semitism is at play. On October 14, 2023, six-year-old Palestinian-American boy Wadea Al-Fayoume was stabbed to death by his landlord as part of a suspected hate crime.

“Please understand that in this moment there are people who are joyfully working to reinforce our ugliest traits – bigotry, exclusion, spite, distrust – all in the name of pure, unmitigated hate,” Lt . Governor Juliana Stratton.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights and the state Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes oversee the program. It allows people who have experienced hate crimes to go to IlStopHate.org or call 877-458-HATE and talk about the incident. You will be referred to a specialized resource depending on the type of crime.

For example, they can talk to professionals in their own communities, get help coping with trauma, or connect with resources that can provide additional safety measures. The victim can also report the crime to state or local police, who will investigate further.

The program is funded by a three-year, $1.3 million U.S. Department of Justice grant and IDHR general funding. This ensures that Help Stop Hate will be a long-term resource, officials said.

According to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the multi-pronged approach will also support data collection on hate-motivated crimes, which are grossly underreported. Officials said the data was inconsistent because some victims were hesitant to report hate crimes for various reasons. Victims often view hate crimes as part of everyday life; They fear their concerns will be dismissed by law enforcement. Or, as Stratton said, they don’t trust the systems currently in place.

Jim Bennett, IDHR director, said a nationwide hate crimes study will be conducted in 2025.

A bill in the General Assembly would also seek to require law enforcement to undergo mandatory training on “bias-motivated crimes.” But that measure, House Bill 5368, was referred back to the House Rules Committee in April, a procedural step that often indicates a bill is far from being passed.

According to the Movement Advancement Project, only 12 states require law enforcement to undergo training to identify and respond to hate crimes, including crimes related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

“At this moment in our history when some condone hateful violence and rhetoric, I encourage Illinoisans to stand up against it and stand up for their communities,” Pritzker said.

Amalia Huot-Marchand is a journalism graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications and a fellow at the Medill Illinois News Bureau, working with Capitol News Illinois.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets across the state. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.