Hate-motivated incidents are defined as behavior which constitutes an expression of hostility against the person or property of another because of the victim's race, religion, disability, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. However, hate-motivated incidents include those actions that are motivated by bias, but do not meet the necessary elements required to prove a crime. This may include such behavior as nonthreatening name calling, using racial slurs or disseminating racist leaflets.

Hate crimes are defined under specific penal code sections as an act or an attempted act by any person against the person or property of another individual or group which in any way constitutes an expression of hostility toward the victim because of his or her race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, gender or ethnicity. (Elements of crime statutes and protected classifications vary from state to state.) This includes but is not limited to threatening phone calls, hate mail, physical assaults, vandalism, cross burnings, destruction of religious symbols and fire bombings.

Often when incidents of either bigotry or other acts motivated by hate occur, it is left to the victims and members of the particular group that has been attacked to speak out.

This should not be the case. We believe that if one group is attacked, it is as though all groups have been attacked. We all have a duty to respond. Many times, good people may feel outraged but do not know how to respond. Thus, when an incident occurs, precious time is lost struggling with this question. What follows are some specific suggestions that may help facilitate a prompt and effective response.