PITTSBURGH, PA—The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office is engaged in a multifaceted nationwide effort to build public awareness of hate crimes and encourage reporting to law enforcement. FBI Pittsburgh has launched a social media awareness campaign on @FBIPittsburgh’s Twitter account and the FBI Pittsburgh Facebook page. You can find billboards along major highways in Indiana and Somerset Counties in Pennsylvania and in Barboursville, Clarksburg, Elkins, Morgantown, Princeton, and Bluefield in West Virginia.

The FBI is the lead investigative agency for criminal violations of federal civil rights statutes. Hate crimes, defined as a traditional offense with an added element of bias, are the highest priority of the FBI’s civil rights program because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities. The Bureau investigates hundreds of these cases every year, but hate crimes are often underreported to both federal and local law enforcement.

“We continue to see a rise in hate crimes throughout the communities we live and work in,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “Unfortunately, we also know there are many more incidents that are never reported whether it be because of fear of retaliation or not recognizing what happened was a hate crime. I want the community to know that we will work to hold people accountable for committing these serious crimes. No one should live in fear because of someone’s intolerance and hatred.”

The FBI works closely with state, local, and tribal authorities on investigations, even when federal charges are not brought. FBI Pittsburgh actively participates in the Civil Rights Working Group with multiple federal, state, and local partner agencies. FBI resources, forensic expertise, and experience in the identification and proof of hate-based motivations often provide an invaluable complement to local law enforcement hate crime cases.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call 911. If you believe you have been the target or victim of a hate crime or other civil rights violation, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or FBI Pittsburgh at (412) 432-4000 or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov. Tips can remain anonymous and can be made in an individual’s native language.

The FBI works to protect all victims of crimes, regardless of their country of national origin or immigration status. The FBI encourages victims and witnesses of any hate-related incident to report it to law enforcement. After a report is submitted, the FBI will work with its law enforcement partners and use its resources and expertise to determine if an incident meets the criminal standard.

Resources

• FBI Civil Rights webpage
• Hate Crime Statistics
• FBI Victim Services Division
• U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

For more information, visit www.fbi.gov or https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/pittsburgh. For media inquiries please call (412) 432-4291 or e-mail cpolicicchio@fbi.gov