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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Lt Gov Juliana Stratton, and Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes (CDHC) at a press conference to launch the Help Stop Hate reporting portal.
Illinois joins states across the nation in ensuring residents are supported with a clear and effective process when dealing with hate or hate-related incidents. The CDHC represents the great diversity of Illinois, and includes Director Jim Bennett, ED Elana Kahn, Dr. Dilara Sayeed of the Muslim Civic Coalition, Jenan Mohajir of Interfaith America, Marvet Sweis of the Arab American Bar Association, Grace Pai of AAAJ, and other Illinois leaders.
A recent example of hate is the unprovoked shooting of a visibly Orthodox Jewish man as he walked to his place of worship last Saturday. It is a stark reminder that hate has no place in our community, our state, or our country. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victim, his family, and the broader Jewish community.
It has been one year since the tragic and hateful stabbing and murder of 6-year-old Wadee AlFayoumi, a Palestinian Muslim child, which remains uncharged as a hate crime.
Division and Dehumanization make us all unsafe.
Sadly, visible symbols of identity - a cross necklace, turban, kippah, hijab, keffiyeh, or our skin color - put a target for hate on too many of us.
The Wadee Resolution, which unanimously passed in the US Senate last month, is crucial in affirming the expression of heritage and religious identities.
Hate crimes are often underreported due to fear and mistrust.
Reporting hate crimes is a critical step towards a safer community and nation - for all Americans.
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