U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger recently announced the launch of an anti-hate crime campaign.
According to an April 20 press release shared by the Department of Justice, Sellinger launched the first propagation program against hate crimes of its kind entitled "United Against Hate." This program seeks to directly unite federal, state and local law enforcement with traditionally marginalized societies to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents.
“The U.S. Department of Justice continues to marshal all resources at its disposal to hold people who engage in unlawful, bias-motivated acts of hate accountable,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, according to the release. “Through United Against Hate, we are bringing together the Justice Department, local law enforcement and community leaders to strengthen our overall efforts to combat hate crimes and prevent hate incidents. Our communities, schools, workplaces and homes are all safer when we stand unified in the fight against hate.”
Last month, Sellinger announced the Civil Rights Division he created in the U.S. attorneys office, according to the release.
“The ripple effect of hate crimes is felt hundreds, even thousands of miles away. People who identify with those victims see themselves and wonder ‘Will it happen here?’ and ‘Will I be next?’” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly said, according to the release. “The Constitution of the United States grants us many freedoms. When any one of those freedoms – or any other constitutional right – is threatened or violated, we have to respond. And when I say ‘we,’ I’m not speaking just as a member of the FBI. I’m speaking as a member of the community. Because if we don’t respond, we risk the erosion of our very identity as a nation. That's why the FBI embarked on a hate crimes awareness campaign last year. We want people to call us if they have witnessed or been subjected to a hate crime.’’
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey chose one out of 94 districts to move along the anti-hate initiative, according to the release.
The release states that the Attorney’s Office plans to engage with New Jersey communities to build relationships.
