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3 simple steps to take if you are physically or verbally attacked, harassed, or threatened
Call 911 to report to police and then contact CAIR-WA to ensure your case is treated by police with the seriousness it deserves and that the attackers face justice
1. Get to a safe place and c
all 911.
Ask the operator to send police to the location of the incident so they can speak with you, see any damage and file a police report while the facts are fresh in your memory.
Keep all evidence write down what happened, so you can provide these details to the police officer. Be sure to take photos of any damage and injuries, and write down names and contact information of all witnesses.
If you believe you were targeted for your religion, race, ethnicity, accent, color of skin, or other protected status, ask the officer clearly that your case be treated as a hate crime and be sure they check the "hate/bias-motivation" or "hate crime/incident" box on the police report.
Be sure that the police officer writes down these details in a police report and takes photos of any damage. If any threats or biased words were said (such as anti-Muslim words), be sure to have the police include these in the report.
2. Be sure to get a police report number from the police officer. Also get the officer's name and badge number. If you cannot get a copy of the police report immediately, go to the police station to ask for one. Always get your own copy of the police report.
3. Report to CAIR-WA at 206.367.4081 or info@cairseattle.org or www.cairseattle.org/gethelp
so that we can ensure your case is treated seriously by law enforcement and that the attackers face justice. We often find that anti-Muslim hate crimes are either ignored or not investigated properly until CAIR-WA contacts the authorities and if continue to follow up.
Encourage your friends/family to report incidents to CAIR-WA no matter how "small" it might seem to you/them at first. If we can document and respond to each anti-Muslim hate incident, we can possibly prevent future attacks by working with law enforcement to send a message that these actions are not okay and those who commit these attacks will face justice. We stand ready to help. We bring years of professional experience in ensuring that discrimination and hate crimes are dealt with seriously. Our civil rights services are offered at zero cost to our clients.
As always, if you have any concerns or questions, please call us at 206.367.4081 to speak with our Civil Rights Department. Remember, all of CAIR-WA's civil rights services are confidential and provided free of charge.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations of Washington State (CAIR-WA), is a local chapter of CAIR, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights organization. CAIR's mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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