Definition: A hate crime is defined by the FBI as a criminal offense committed against a person, property or society which is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity/national origin.

Washington Hate Crime Law: Revised Code of Washington ("RCW") 9A.36.080--Malicious Harassment
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.36.080

Washington Anti-Discrimination Laws: RCW 49.60.180--Unfair Practices of Employers
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.60.180


CONTACT NUMBERS

Seattle Police Department: Emergency 9-1-1; Non-emergency (206) 625-5011

Seattle Office for Civil Rights: (206) 684-4500

King County Office of Civil Rights: (206) 296-7592

Tacoma Human Rights and Human Services Dept.: (253) 591-5151

Washington State Human Rights Commission: (800) 605-7323

U.S. Dept. of Justice, Community Relations Service: (206) 220-6700

Report hate-oriented signs or graffiti: Seattle (206) 684-7587; King County (206) 296-8100


RESOURCES

Seattle Office for Civil Rights: http://www.seattle.gov/civilrights/discrimination_find_help.htm

• Where to find help

King County Office of Civil Rights: http://www.metrokc.gov/dias/ocre/nohate.htm#hate

• Hate--Not in Our Backyard

King County Public Health Dept.: http://www.metrokc.gov/HEALTH/glbt/hatecrime.htm

• What to do if you are the victim of a hate crime

FBI Hate Crimes Statistics: 2003 Annual Report http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/03hc.pdf

• 16.5% of hate crimes in the U.S. were committed based upon the victim's perceived sexual orientation

Parnters Against Hate: http://www.partnersagainsthate.org/

• Help Youth Resist Hate and Bias

Human Rights Campaign: http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/5660.htm

• Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act/Matthew Shepard Act

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: http://thetaskforce.org/issues/hate_crimes_main_page

• Task force's work on hate crimes, including pending federal legislation

Safe Schools Coalition: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-biascrime_hatred_extremism.html

• Resources for bias crime, hatred and extremism in schools