JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation Jacksonville Division is launching a year-long public awareness campaign in communities across North Florida to encourage the reporting of potential hate crimes.
On Thursday, Special Agent in Charge Rachel L. Rojas will kicked off the campaign, alongside other leadership, at 10 a.m.
According to the FBI’s 2020 Hate Crime Statistics report, the number of reported hate crimes has increased by more than 20% over the past five years. However, despite the steady increase year-over-year, federal civil rights investigators believe the number of incidents could be even higher.
The FBI has determined that hate crimes often go unreported for a variety of reasons, including fear of retaliation, privacy concerns, or a lack of understanding or trust in the justice system.
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“Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim - they are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community, which is why investigating hate crimes was recently elevated to a top national security priority for the FBI,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Jacksonville. “This campaign is a way to enhance collaboration between the FBI and our law enforcement partners, as well support local community groups who serve victims of crime daily."
If you believe you are a victim or a witness of a hate crime, we encourage you to report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip at https://tips.fbi.gov/