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Press Release

Second U.S. Attorney Workshop to Combat Hate Crimes Focuses on LBGTQ+ Community

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE –  United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha on Tuesday held the second in a series of  “United Against Hate Workshops” to increase awareness of hate crimes and hate incidents in Rhode Island, and how to report them. More than seventy attendees attended the workshop that focused on identifying and reporting hate crimes and incidents in the LBGTQ+ community.

In June, several dozen members of the Rhode Island faith-based community attended a similar workshop aimed at improving law enforcement training, the reporting of hate crimes and incidents, and community outreach.

The workshops, part of the Department of Justice’s “United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting and Preventing Hate Crimes” program, continue efforts to: (1) improve reporting of hate crimes by teaching community members how to identify, report, and help prevent those hate crimes;  (2) build trust between law enforcement and communities; and (3) create and strengthen alliances to combat hate between the United States Attorney’s Office; federal, state, and local law enforcement partners; and community organizations.

“The enforcement and defense of civil rights- for every American- is at the core of the Justice Department’s mission,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha.  “And carrying out that mission is about more than just bringing cases.  It’s about building partnerships, spreading knowledge, and deepening connections between communities and their law enforcement partners. That is exactly what we are striving to do with our United Against Hate initiative, and I am proud that our office has the chance to stand with the LGBTQ+ community in this effort.”

Tuesday’s workshop, held at New England Institute of Technology, included remarks by United States Attorney Cunha and presentations by and discussions with Assistant United States Attorney Kevin L. Hubbard of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Civil Division and FBI Special Agent Pepper Daigler, who, among other matters, investigates allegations of civil rights violations.

Among those in attendance were LBGTQ+ community leaders and members; state, local, university and college law enforcement agencies; health care providers and related service providers; child, parent, and family support service providers and organizations; students; and domestic violence service providers.  

United States Attorney Cunha urges individuals who believe they are victims of a hate crime or incident, or may have witnessed one, to contact their local or state law enforcement agency, the FBI, or the United States Attorney’s Office.

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Contact

Jim Martin
(401) 709-5357

Updated November 15, 2022

Topics
Civil Rights
Community Outreach
Press Release Number: 22-153