What is a Hate/Bias Incident?
A hate/bias incident is any act or expression of hostility or aggression that is motivated by bias against a protected class but does not constitute a crime under local, State, or federal law.
Examples of Hate/Bias Incidents
- Verbal abuse/slurs (example name calling)
- Degrading language
- Distributing hate literature in public spaces
What is a Hate Crime?
In Maryland, any of the following constitutes a hate crime:
- A crime, or threat to commit a crime, motivated by another person or group’s perceived personal characteristic or group membership, including race, color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, national origin, or homelessness.
- Examples include: threatening to attack a place of worship; assaulting or injuring someone because of their perceived identity.
- Damaging or destroying, attempting to damage or destroy, and threatening to damage or destroy religious property.
- Obstructing others from exercising their religious beliefs by force or threat of force.
- Damaging, burning, destroying – or attempting or threatening to damage, burn or destroy – the real or personal property of a person or group because of that person’s or group’s perceived characteristic or membership. This includes real or personal property connected to a building that is publicly or privately owned, such as a cemetery, library, meeting hall, recreation center, or school.
For more information click HERE
