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Acts of hate target your identity—your race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, immigration status, or national origin. These aspects of identity are legally protected classes.
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What Is Hate?
While we hope you will report any experience of hate, there are differences in how hateful acts are defined.
There are three types of hate incidents
Hate Crimes
Hate crimes are crimes and motivated in part by bias against a protected class. Physical assaults, harassment through writing or speech, stalking someone in-person or online, sending obscene messages, or trespassing on or damaging property are all crimes. When the offender targets you because of your identity, it's a hate crime.
Civil Rights Violations
These acts of hateful bias may not be crimes, but they violate your right to equal opportunity and human rights. If you experience discrimination, sexual harassment, or retaliation related to your employment, housing, access to credit, public accommodations, or education—because of your identity—that's a hate-based violation of your civil rights.
Hateful, but Legal
Free speech is protected under the US Constitution, which means using a racial, ethnic, or other slur, or other degrading language, to identify someone; imitating someone with a disability; or mocking someone’s culture may be legal—as long as there’s no intimidation or threat.
Trust your inner voice. Please report any act of hate you've experienced or witnessed, regardless of whether it appears above.
State & Federal Statutes
Illinois provides important protections against discrimination.