State officials unveil new resource dedicated to helping people report hate crimes

Posted on October 30, 2024
Gov. JB Prtizker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton during a news conference Wednesday. (X/Governor JB Pritzker)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – With hate speech and hate crimes at an all-time high, according to FBI numbers cited by the Pritzker administration, a new state resource aims to connect victims with services and increase reporting of such acts.

Unveiling Help Stop Hate, Gov. JB Pritzker said, “at this moment in our history, when some are condoning hateful violence and rhetoric, I encourage Illinoisans to stand up against it and report violent incidents.”

After reciting the names of such notable hate-crime victims as Emmitt Till and Matthew Shepard, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said, “I could stand here for the next several hours and list example after example of what pox hate has left on the surface of our state, our country, and our world; but as Dr. (Martin Luther) King said, dwelling in darkness does nothing to drive it out.”

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