Bias and Hate Response

Hate and Bias Crimes: Hate and bias crimes instill fears and distress to victims and communities, and may have far-reaching negative consequences. Hate crimes impact the community at large, and require specific attention and sensitive response. The City of Eugene has a strong commitment to responding to hate activity, as well as contributing to hate crimes prevention strategies. The City of Eugene, through codes, policies and practices, strives to safeguard the civil and other legal rights of all people.  See You Tube Video Links Below.

Non-Criminal Hate Activity:  This type of hate activity includes biased or bigoted acts that target a group of people, individuals, or property, that do not involve crimes. Non-criminal hate activity often is protected by free speech and can include rallies, offensive signs or t-shirts, leafleting and flier distribution, and group meetings. Attempts to regulate speech face substantial constitutional hurdles. Eugene Police Department (EPD) law enforcement may not involve itself in non-criminal hate activity, often manifested as ‘hate speech.’  To report non-criminal hate activity please call the City of Eugene Equity and Human Rights Center: 541-682-5177 or email: ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us. 

Criminal Hate Activity – Bias Crimes and Hate Crimes:  Bias crimes are often referred to as a “hate crimes” and include any criminal act against a person, group of people or property motivated by bias or prejudice. Hate crimes can include all classes of crime motivated by bias or prejudice based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. In addition to statutory reporting of state and federally classified hate crimes, Eugene Police also track bias-related crimes motivated by perceived age, economic status, social status, citizenship, marital status, or political affiliation or beliefs, membership or activity in or on behalf of a labor organization or against a labor organization to monitor community relations. Crimes can range from telephonic harassment, graffiti, property damage, physical assault or murder. EPD Violent Crimes leads criminal investigations of bias crimes. Criminal mischief, intimidation and assault are common bias crimes in Eugene.

On April 21, 2010, the Human Rights Commission and the Police Commission partnered to host “Community Conversations”, an anti-hate information and action forum at the Downtown Baker Center.  Among the attendees were representatives from US Attorney’s Office, Oregon Department of Justice, Community Mediation Services, Eugene Police, Community Alliance of Lane County and many others. 

The forum began with a panel of 4 speakers representing the University of Oregon, ACLU, University of Portland and the Oregon Department of Justice, and was moderated by Equity and Human Rights staff.  Panelists discussed reasons why hate speech and hate activity occurs, what to do when it happens, ways to support the community and the victims when incidents take place, and how to raise awareness around this topic.  They noted that under-reporting is one of the major barriers to raising community awareness, coordinating resources and taking action. 

Below are four videos clips of the event. Each clip involves a featured speaker answering a question from the audience.

How can we create a safer environment to enable vulnerable communities to report hate crimes?

What are the roles of Law Enforcement in Hate Activity protection? 

What is the difference between Hate Speech and Free Speech?

What are effective strategies to address hate in communities?