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Saturday, Sep 06, 2008
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Letters |
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| HATE CRIMES Dear SGN, Seattle is not free from hate. Hate crimes don't just happen in other places - they occur right here in Seattle. In the last month, multiple anti-Gay assaults have taken place on Capitol Hill and in Belltown. In February 2007, local delicatessen owner Steven Saleh and his nephew, Fares Kasim were physically attacked and insulted. In the summer of 2006, Pamela Waechter was killed and five others wounded (three critically) in a hate-inspired shooting at the Jewish Federation in downtown Seattle. In 2005, Micah Painter was the victim of a brutal anti-Gay attack. And countless women experience attacks simply because they are women. Earlier this year, Rebecca Griego paid for this hatred with her life. Most Seattle residents are proud of the diversity in our city and our inclusiveness, but that pride should not blind us to what is going on in our midst. We cannot eliminate hate crimes altogether - but we can fight back. We can help ensure that perpetrators are caught and prosecuted. If you experience a hate crime, here are a few steps you can take to aid the police and prosecutors: Call 911 immediately. Tell the operator that you are reporting malicious harassment as defined by RCW 9A.36.080. Write down everything that happened; note the physical descriptions of the perpetrator, license numbers, what was said, etc. File a police report. Tell the responding officer that you were a victim of malicious harassment. Describe in detail the hate or prejudice that the perpetrator expressed. Get the incident number from the officer, as well as the officer's badge number. We also can work together as a community to prevent hate crimes: Get involved. If you witness an attack, identify yourself to the victim and to the police. Stay involved. Contact the media and other community leaders to let them know of hate-based attacks. Apply pressure to ensure that hate crimes are taken and tracked seriously. Get others involved. Talk about hate crimes with your family, friends, and faith community members. Learn more and take a common stand. At the Seattle Office for Civil Rights, we work with the Seattle Police Department to report and prevent hate crimes. I urge the public to join with us to fight harassment and discrimination. For more information, call 206-684-4500. Silence is collusion. When hate happens in Seattle, we need to make our voices be heard. Julie Nelson Acting Director Seattle Office for Civil Rights 206-255-6914 |
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