JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Have you recently felt threatened because of your race, religion, or sexual preference?
If so, the FBI wants to know about it.
That was the message at a press conference Thursday at the FBI office in Jacksonville.
The FBI is amping up its efforts to combat and prevent hate crimes.
And you will be seeing more signs, billboards and social media posts, urging you to report hate crimes or threats.
Hate crime incidents are on the rise. According to the FBI, the number of reported hate crimes increased nationwide 36 percent over the last five years.
And now with the the latest crisis between Hamas and Israel, the FBI is starting a public education campaign to encourage people to report if they have been the target of a hate crime or if they feel threatened because of their race, religion, or sexual preference.
"We do have hate here," Special Agent in Charge at the FBI In Jacksonville, Sherri E. Onks said. "We do feel like it goes underreported and with the conflicts in the middle east , we’re all at a heightened security level to make sure we’re out there monitoring and talking to community to make sure we are getting these reported."
She gave a hate crime example of the Dollar General shooting earlier this year in Jacksonville in which three people were killed based on the color of their skin. Onks said the case is still investigation to learn how to prevent that kind of attack in the future.
You can call your local police or sheriff’s office to report hate crimes or threats. You can also call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Or send in a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
There is also a guide book available to suggest ways to handle when you feel threatened.