The Las Vegas Division of the FBI is launching an advertising campaign across Nevada to raise awareness about federal hate crimes and to encourage the public to report them to the FBI. The campaign, which begins this week, includes television and radio public service announcements raising awareness of Hate Crimes throughout Nevada. The announcements, which will be aired in English and Spanish, highlight the need for us all to work collaboratively to ensure no crime goes unreported.

A hate crime is a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias. The FBI defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.”

“Launching our local public awareness campaign represents an investment in the communities we serve and enhances our continuing outreach and education efforts throughout Nevada,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Division. “We understand that some individuals may be afraid to come forward to law enforcement, but I want to assure the community that the FBI works to protect all victims of crimes, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity, country of national origin, or immigration status. Acts of hate and racism have no place here and will not be tolerated.”

Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI’s civil rights program because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities. Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim—they are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community.

The FBI works closely with its local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners in many hate crime investigations. To learn more about federal hate crime statutes and state hate crime laws, visit the United States Department of Justice website:  justice.gov/hatecrimes/laws-and-policies.

If you believe you are a victim or a witness of a hate crime, we encourage you to report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip at tips.fbi.gov.