Acts of hate and discrimination reported through online tool

Residents have been making use of a new online tool, launched earlier this year, to report acts of hate and discrimination, according to Chatham-Kent Victim Services.

The organization announced the service in June with the aim of creating a central location, outside of law enforcement, for reporting incidents in the municipality.

Jason Brown, volunteer and community engagement co-ordinator, said statistics likely will be released later this year, but noted reports are coming in.

“We’ve always known it’s happening, but we needed the tool to really help us get the data,” he said.

Incidents that can be reported include, but aren’t limited to harassment, intimidation, threats, denial of services, witnessing or seeing vandalism aimed at them or the broader community because of their race, ethnic origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disabilities or other identities.

Approximately two-thirds of the reports to date concerned in-person incidents, with the remainder coming on Facebook.

“We’ve certainly seen an uptick in all kinds of incidents,” Brown said. “Sexual orientation and gender identity expression have certainly been one of the most targeted groups in the community, based on the reports we’ve received.”

He added there has been a rise in hateful behavior since the pandemic, noting it’s also become “more public.”

The conversation about the need for the tool began last year, following a meeting of the Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership anti-racism working group.

Victim services consulted local groups and advocates on what they would like to see.

Similar projects in other jurisdictions include the Sarnia-Lambton Alliance Against Hate and the Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener-Waterloo hate and discrimination documentation and reporting service.

For the Chatham-Kent tool, people can submit anonymous reports or provide contact information to access support from the team.

“At some point, we can inform the community and the community leaders on what is happening,” Brown said.

He said the organization hopes to publish the data on a quarterly or bi-annual basis for public consumption in the future, adding it is hoped this will help foster understanding, as well as a response.

Volunteer crisis responders trained in trauma-informed care, as well as principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with professional crisis staff, will provide support to anyone who wishes.

To submit a report, visit ckvictimservices.com/report-hate. People can also call 519-436-6630 and leave a message indicating they wish to make a report.

They will receive a call back within three business days. All information provided to Chatham-Kent Victim Services is confidential unless a client consents to sharing the information with other community partners.