Test: is what I saw a hate crime?

A hate crime is a crime motivated by hostile, discriminatory attitudes of the aggressor against a person or a community on the grounds of their age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, nationality, language, origin, social status, faith, beliefs and opinions. This can include hate-motivated assaults, damage to property, shouting derogatory slogans in the street, defacing graves, houses of worship, leaving messages or symbols, comments on the internet, etc.

This test will tell you whether the incident you witnessed is a hate crime.

MOTIVE

Do you think the crime was committed because of the perpetrator’s negative attitudes towards the victim’s nationality, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability or other identity traits?

Did the aggressor during the crime:

reacted negatively to the victim’s speech, accent or pronunciation?
react negatively to your appearance: skin color, eye shape, visible disability, etc.?
reacted negatively to the victim’s clothing, symbols reflecting his religion, beliefs or other personal identity traits? For example, hijab, LGBT, feminism, political activism and other signs?
believed that the victim belonged to any social group defined by nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, etc.?
harmed the person because of the victim’s possible association with a person from a socially vulnerable group?
took advantage of the fact that the victim’s identity features make him an easier target? For example, taking advantage of a person’s disability, age, lack of language skills, etc.?

ENVIRONMENT

Did the crime take place in (or near) a place that is important to a vulnerable group? For example, in a synagogue, at an LGBT community center, at a site important to ethnic communities, at thematic events?

Did the crime take place at a time of importance to the community? For example, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Pride, Krishnaites marching, etc.?

Did the aggressor use words or gestures to express hostility towards the victim because of his/her identity?

Did the perpetrator’s appearance, gestures, clothing and other details indicate that he might be a supporter of racist, homophobic, sexist or similar ideas?

Did the damaged, defaced or stolen property belong to a person from a vulnerable group?

Were the obscene acts a disturbance to a service, ceremony or religious celebration?

INCITEMENT

Was there:

bullying based on nationality, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability, race, language, origin, social status, religion, beliefs or opinions?
A person stigmatized because of his identity?
hatred promoted based on nationality, sexual orientation, religion and other personal identity traits?
Discrimination incited on grounds of nationality, sexual orientation, gender and other personal identity?
Violence and physical violence incited on the grounds of nationality, sexual orientation, disability and other identity characteristics?
Genocide or other (war) crimes against humanity being publicly and aggressively approved?
Public and aggressive denying or grossly undermining genocide or other (war) crimes against humanity?

Does the person suspected of a crime:

finances or otherwise supports acts inciting violence or physical violence against a person or a group of people because of their identity?
has set up a group or organization to discriminate or incite against a group of people on the basis of their nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other identities?
participates in such a group or organization?
funds or otherwise materially supports such a group or organization?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have witnessed a hate crime. We suggest you report it to the police or other responsible authority.