New Report Highlights Critical Next Steps in Combating Hate Crimes in Illinois
New Report Highlights Critical Next Steps in Combating Hate Crimes in Illinois (Chicago, IL) — The Illinois Commission on Discrimination & Hate Crimes (Commission), relaunched under the leadership of Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, has released their inaugural annual report. The report outlines the yearlong investigative and fact-finding work the Commission achieved through engaging with diverse communities throughout the state, hearing testimony from subject matter experts, locally and globally, and collaborating with law enforcement, constitutional offices, and other state agencies.
The Commission, initially created in 2005, was given new life after a decade long dormancy to holistically address the alarming rise of hate crimes in Illinois. “As the state most representative of our nation, Illinois is also home to the hate that plagues our nation – and in turn, an opportunity to lead the way in building a welcoming, inclusive state that all our residents can be proud to call home,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m grateful to the Commission on Discrimination & Hate Crimes for bringing together the lived experiences of Illinoisans from all around the state in the name of acceptance. Illinois has a long legacy of advancing inclusion, and I’m proud to do all that I can to combat hate with the full weight of the Governor’s Office.”
The Commission is comprised of experts and thought leaders from across the state. They reflect the diversity of perspectives, racial backgrounds, abilities, religions, gender identities, and sexual orientations that help them give voice to all Illinoisians. “Illinois intends to take the lead in working to reduce incidents of hate,” said Commission Chair James (Jim) Bennett. “Our focus is on investigating the root causes of hate, how we respond to incidents in the present, and what we need to do differently in the future to ensure all communities have the tools needed to combat hate crimes and discrimination.”
The Commission will be presenting their recommendations to Governor Pritzker and the general assembly in the coming months and will begin formulating additional action steps throughout the year. To learn more about the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, please visit the website at https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/cdhc/Pages/default.aspx.
About the Illinois Commission on Discrimination & Hate Crimes (CDHC)
The mission of the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes is to identify and uproot sources of discrimination and bias at the source, while assisting with the development of resources, training, and information that allow for a swift and efficient response to hate-motivated crimes and incidents. Working with educators throughout Illinois on issues concerning discrimination and hate, the Commission helps ensure that this State’s laws addressing discrimination and hate-related violence are widely known and applied correctly to help eradicate and prevent crimes based on discrimination and intolerance. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly for statutory and programmatic changes necessary to eliminate discrimination and hate-based violence. They implement recommendations by working with State agencies, the General Assembly, the business community, social service community and other organizations.
New Report Highlights Critical Next Steps in Combating Hate Crimes in Illinois
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