Justice Department Hosts Forum to Highlight Efforts to Unite Communities and Strengthen Partnerships with Law Enforcement to Combat Hate

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division hosted a virtual forum to highlight the successful launch of the United Against Hate (UAH) initiative in all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) and discuss efforts to combat unlawful acts of hate. Today’s event coincides with the 25th anniversary of the tragic murders of James Byrd Jr. and Matthew Shepard and commemorates the 14th anniversary of the Shepard/Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

In September 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced that every USAO within the next year would convene local forums that connect community groups to federal, state, and local law enforcement to build trust and increase the reporting of hate crimes. The USAOs have met that commitment by hosting more than 200 UAH programs for thousands of participants nationwide over this past year. 

“As I see in my daily threat briefings, there has been a significant increase in the volume and frequency of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities across our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I recognize the fear, frustration, and isolation that many of you have felt over the past few weeks, and that you continue to feel as you join us here today. I want to reiterate a core principle of this Justice Department: no person and no community in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence. You are not alone. And the Justice Department is committed to building on our partnerships with all of you to combat illegal acts of hate.”

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke moderated a fireside chat with Houston Police Department Officer Jamie Byrd-Grant, who is the daughter of James Byrd Jr. During the conversation, Byrd-Grant discussed her decision to become a police officer after her father’s brutal murder, when she was just 16, as well as her current role in administering a Shepard-Byrd grant in Houston. Dennis and Judy Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, provided recorded remarks about their foundation’s efforts to amplify Matthew’s story to inspire individuals, organizations, and families to embrace the dignity and equality of all people, and the importance of community members connecting with law enforcement to build relationships before a hate crime occurs. 

“Make no mistake, hate-fueled violence is a stain on our nation’s history and has no place in our society today,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “Through United Against Hate, we are building community resilience, strengthening relationships between community and law enforcement, and empowering communities with the tools necessary to eliminate hate root and branch. This moment demands vigilance and use of every tool at our disposal, including the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to ensure that our communities, schools, workplaces, houses of worship, stores, and streets are safe spaces, free from threats and bias-driven violence.”

The forum also included a panel discussion featuring U.S. Attorneys Dena King for the Western District of North Carolina; Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida; Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho; and Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey, who all highlighted their successful UAH programs that have strengthened connections between their communities and law enforcement.

Deputy Associate Attorney General Saeed Mody, who is the Department’s hate crime coordinator, gave remarks on the Department’s efforts to address the rise in hate, including awarding over $38 million to support the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes, increase hate crimes reporting, expand victim services, and improve community awareness.

Multiple advocates and survivors of hate crimes joined the forum to discuss the value of centering survivor stories in sparking dialogue and building relationships. This panel included U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Rabbi Hazzan Jeffery Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation; Co-Director Pardeep Kaleka of Not In Our Town; Executive Director Anisha Singh of the Sikh Coalition; and Senior Program Director Nadia Aziz of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

The forum concluded with reflections from civil rights organizations, including Maya Berry of the Arab American Institute; Damon Hewitt of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; and Sheila Katz of the National Council of Jewish Women. During this conversation, these civil rights leaders discussed the impact of recent increases in hate crimes and hate incidents on their community stakeholders, the response of their organizations, often working together, and how to improve partnerships and address the needs of survivors and their communities.

In conjunction with today’s event, the Civil Rights Division released a document highlighting the reach of the UAH program in its first year and examples of the impact the program has already had in several districts throughout the country. These include participants’s reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents to USAOs; coordination on responding to threats to religious institutions; and sparking the creation of new community initiatives at local colleges.

Learn more about the Department’s work on hate crimes here.