Hate Crimes

If you have been physically assaulted or verbally threatened, it is imperative that you report the incident. For a number of reasons, the Muslim community has historically severely underreported hate and bias. When we stand up to hate, we prevent future hate and protect everyone, not only ourselves.

If you believe that you have been the victim of a hate crime, you should: 

• Report the crime to your local police station immediately. Ask that the incident be treated as a hate crime. Follow up with investigators. 

• Report the crime to CAIR-NJ. You can do this by submitting our report an incident form. Report to CAIR-NJ even if you believe it is a ‘small’ incident. 

• Document the incident. Write down exactly what was said and/or done by the offender (including dates, times and places). Save all of the evidence and try to take photographs. 

• Act quickly. Each incident must be dealt with right away, not when it is convenient. 

• Decide on the appropriate action to be taken. We will help you consider issuing a statement from community leaders, holding a news conference, organizing a peaceful protest, meeting with local officials or starting a letter writing campaign, and mobilizing community support.
  • CAIR-NJ can demand that bias charges be applied when appropriate.

• Stay on top of the situation. Make sure you follow up with police, local media and community leaders to make sure that your case is receiving the attention that it deserves. 

• Announce results. When the incident is resolved, make an announcement to the same people and organizations originally contacted. 

Note: In New Jersey, a bias crime (hate crime) is a criminal offense committed because of a person’s actual or perceived protected characteristic, such as religion, race, or national origin, with the required intent or knowledge under the bias-intimidation law. 

A bias incident is broader: it is conduct suspected or confirmed to be bias-based and is reported/investigated as such; not every bias incident ultimately qualifies as a prosecutable bias crime.