First, if you wish to report an emergency, please contact your local authorities and call 9-1-1 immediately.
If you believe that you have been the victim of a hate crime or hate incident, and if you wish to retain a pro bono (free) attorney for legal assistance, NAPABA may be able to assist and connect you with appropriate legal resources.
NAPABA has a nationwide network of nearly 90 affiliate organizations, and we are an intake provider for the Alliance for Asian American Justice. NAPABA is here to assist in combatting hate fueled attacks against the AANHPI community.
Please note that NAPABA is not a direct provider of legal advice or legal services. Instead, NAPABA may be able to connect you with the appropriate organizations that can assist you in your request for an attorney. The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only.
NAPABA and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) have collaborated on a hate crime/incident toolkit that provides basic and critical information for victims, community based organizations, and community leaders. Find translations in 25 different languages;
Federal Definition: A hate crime include crimes committed based on the victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender,
gender identity, or disability.
State Definition: Most hate crimes are prosecuted on the state and local level. However, state hate crime protections vary from state to state. There are four
states – Arkansas, Indiana, South Carolina, and Wyoming – that do not have hate crime laws.
A hate crime must involve a “crime” and it is often a violent crime, such as assault, murder, arson, vandalism, or threats to commit such crimes. It may also cover conspiring or asking another person to commit such crimes, even if the crime was never carried out.
A hate/bias incident are acts of prejudice that are not crimes and do not involve violence, threats, or property damage. The most common examples are speech in the form of racial slurs.
Reporting Hate Crimes Against Asian Pacific Americans to Law Enforcement
Any individual who has been a victim of a hate crime or has witnessed a hate crime should report these incidents to their local police department first. In addition to local police, incidents should be reported to local FBI field office and state attorney general's office.
Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (A3PCON) records hate crimes and hate/bias incidents in English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Punjabi, Tagalog, Hmong, and Hindi.
Muslim Advocates records hate crimes and hate/bias incidents against the American Muslim community.
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) When Hate Hits You: A resource guide on anti-Asian
sentiment including examples of hate crimes, factors that cause anti-Asian sentiment, and steps to take when an incident occurs. A Troubling Legacy: A concise history of anti-Asian sentiment in the United States. An Unnoticed Struggle: A concise history of Asian American civil rights issues. Words Can Kill the Spirit: A brochure explaining racial slurs directed at Asian Americans. Anti-Asian Sentiment on Campus: A brochure that outlines what to do if a hate incident or hate crime occurs on campus.
Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS) CRS acts as a “peacemaker” for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences
of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability. CRS works with police chiefs, mayors, school administrators, other local and state authorities, community-based organizations,
and civil and human rights groups. Find your regional CRS office here. Explore information for religious groups here.
Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) OVC is committed to enhancing the Nation's capacity to assist crime victims and to provide leadership in changing attitudes, policies and practices
to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. View more information here.
Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) CRCL
supports the Department of Homeland Security's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law. View more information here.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. View more information here.
Mental Health
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) NAAPIMHA’s mission is to promote the mental health
and well being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. View resource information here.
National Organization for Victim Assistance The
national victim assistance organization that provides resources, assistance and support for victims harmed by crime and crisis. Call 1-800-TRY-NOVA (879-6682).
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline The
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free, confidential, 24/7 support for people in distress, as well as provides crisis resources and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
SAMHSA’s National Helpline SAMHSA’s
National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 1-800-662-HELP
(4357).
Victim Connect Resource Center Victim Connect is a place for victims of crime to share their stories with specialists and learn about their rights and options confidentially and compassionately.
They serve victims of any crime in the United States through online chat or phone. Call 1-855-4VICTIM (84-2846).
Government Agencies
Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS) CRS acts as a “peacemaker” for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences
of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability. CRS works with police chiefs, mayors, school administrators, other local and state authorities, community-based organizations,
and civil and human rights groups. Find your regional CRS office here. Explore information for religious groups here.
Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) OVC is committed to enhancing the Nation's capacity to assist crime victims and to provide leadership in changing attitudes, policies and practices
to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. View more information here.
Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) CRCL
supports the Department of Homeland Security's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law. View more information here.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. View more information here.
Mental Health
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) NAAPIMHA’s mission is to promote the mental health
and well being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. View resource information here.
National Organization for Victim Assistance The
national victim assistance organization that provides resources, assistance and support for victims harmed by crime and crisis. Call 1-800-TRY-NOVA (879-6682).
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline The
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free, confidential, 24/7 support for people in distress, as well as provides crisis resources and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
SAMHSA’s National Helpline SAMHSA’s
National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 1-800-662-HELP
(4357).
Victim Connect Resource Center Victim Connect is a place for victims of crime to share their stories with specialists and learn about their rights and options confidentially and compassionately.
They serve victims of any crime in the United States through online chat or phone. Call 1-855-4VICTIM (84-2846).
Watch this moderated discussion about understanding the difference between hate crimes vs. bias incidents, how a prosecutor makes the decision to charge an incident as a hate crime, proving hate crimes on the state and federal level, and what people can do if they are confronted with a hate crime and/or bias incident.We will arm participants, and their friends and families, with the knowledge they need to deal with these ugly situations, and get the justice they deserve.
Co-Presented by NAPIPA
Panelists:
Aileen Bhandari, Cook's County Assistant State's Attorney, NAPIPA's Chicago Chapter Co-President
Angie Cha, Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, NAPIPA Member
Peter Choi, Kings County Senior Assistant District Attorney, NAPIPA's New York Chapter Member
Thienvu Ho, Sacramento County Assistant District Attorney, NAPIPA's Northern California Board Member
Moderator:
Fanny Yu, San Diego Deputy District Attorney, NAPIPA's San Diego Chapter President
The COVID 19 pandemic has led to an upsurge in violence and racial harassment against Asian Americans, and a rise in racially charged remarks from politicians, including the White House. What lessons from our past inform our present? In the San Francisco bubonic plague epidemic of 1900, a race-based inoculation plan and quarantine was enforced against Chinese residents. This was but just one example of a long and unfortunate history of racial scapegoating. Learn how race has been used in the arena of public health, how you can right discrimination, and how states and the federal government can help.
Presented by the NAPABA Civil Rights Committee & the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)
Panelists:
Chris M. Kwok, NAPABA Dispute Resolution Co Chair, AABANY Issue Chair
Prof. Gabriel “Jack” Chin - UC Davis Law School
Harpreet Singh Mokha - US DOJ - Community Relations Service
Rahat N. Babar - Special Counsel to the Governor of New Jersey; Chair, NAPABA Civil Rights Committee
The Hate Crimes Overview (featuring the FBI and King County Hate Crimes Deputy Prosecuting Attorney), is intended to provide useful information for the community including crime victims, non-profit organizations, community leaders, concerned citizens, law students, attorneys, etc.
Program:
an overview of the State of Washington's Hate Crimes Statute and recent changes in the law;
an overview of the statistics and trends the King County Prosecutor’s Office is noticing in King County;
examples of cases, including meaningful resolutions and trial examples;
an overview of barriers to reporting; and
an overview of the victim advocate role.
Stand Against Hate
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) was joined by six national bar associations denouncing the anti-Asian hate, violence, and racism related to the coronavirus. Visit our Stand Against Hate page to learn more:
