Mass. Hate Crime 'Hotline' Reportedly Fields 400 Calls in First Week

BOSTON, MA – Massachusetts hate crime "hotline," established over concerns about harassment, violence and discrimination following the election, is lighting up in its first week.

According to The Boston Globe, the state Attorney General's office number has already received 400 calls.

Officials there told the Globe it has received "complaints of bullying, threats, vandalism, and harassment have been made based on race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation."

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey established the new reporting hotline after her office heard reports of harassment and intimidation of racial, ethnic and religious minorities, women, LGBTQ individuals and immigrants since Election Day.

Nationally, the Southern Poverty Law Center's has tallied hundreds incidents of "election-related harassment and intimidation" across the country.

"These range from anti-Black to anti-woman to anti-LGBT incidents. There were many examples of vandalism and epithets directed at individuals," writes SPLC, a non-profit legal organization that tracks hate speech and groups. "Often times, types of harassment overlapped and many incidents, though not all, involved direct references to the Trump campaign. Every incident could not be immediately independently verified."

In Massachusetts, anecdotal and social media accounts point to a handful of incidents after the election. That includes a racially motivated insult allegedly shouted by a U.S. Postal Services worker last week in Cambridge and threatening letters containing racists slurs allegedly left on a Natick resident's steps.

“In Massachusetts, we will protect people’s rights, fight discrimination and keep people safe,” Healey said in a press release.. “There are reports from around the country following the election that people have been targeted and subjected to conduct that imperils safety and civil rights. Today, I am establishing a hotline for residents to report bias-motivated threats, harassment, and violence. Such conduct has no place in Massachusetts.”

Any Massachusetts resident who has witnessed or experienced bias-motivated threats, harassment or violence may call the Attorney General’s Hotline at 1-800-994-3228 or fill out a civil rights complaint form at this link. Residents may also contact the AG’s Office through its social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, Healey's office said.

Potential hate crimes – including bias-motivated assault, battery, and property damage – should also be reported to the local police in the first instance. Residents who fear for their immediate safety should call 911.

Further clarification, courtesy the AG's office:

The hotline will be managed by attorneys and staff in the AG’s Office. While not every incident will be appropriate for legal action, the AG’s Office will be tracking reports and appropriate matters may be referred to local law enforcement or the Attorney General’s Criminal Bureau.

Most hate crimes are prosecuted by the local District Attorney’s Office. However, in some cases, the offender may also be prosecuted civilly, either in addition to criminal charges or instead of criminal charges, by the AG’s Office under the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act (MCRA).

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