Perth County OPP and the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) are teaming up to discuss hate/bias related incidents, and its impact on the community.
Featured speakers include Jason Burt, Human Rights and Equity Lead, AMDSB, and Detective Sergeant Tara Bolstad, Perth County OPP Major Crime Unit.
A Q&A will follow.
Community organizations will provide resources, including Victim Services Huron Perth, Perth Mobile Crisis Response Team, Crime Stoppers of Huron and Perth, and the Huron Perth Centre.
“The impact of hate crime and hate/bias motivated incidents go far beyond a single victim and can cause members of the targeted community to be fearful. Everyone should be able to live free from fear within their communities. This presentation will provide information on how we can all take a positive approach to stand up against hate in our communities,” said Perth OPP detachment commander, Inspector Wendy Burrow.
Hate/bias crime is a broad legal term that encompasses a diversity of motives, perpetrators, victims, behaviours, and harms, Perth OPP said in a media release.
Research has identified individuals and groups that are at a particular risk of hate/bias crime victimization, including Indigenous peoples and those targeted because of race, religion, ethnicity, national orientation, sexual orientation, gender, disability, or an intersection of more than one of these identities. Hate crimes may be directed at physical, symbolic targets (such as a mosque) or at individuals or groups of people.
Registration is preferred, but not required. Please visit www.eventbrite.ca, and search for events from the Perth County OPP.
The event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 30, at Listowel District Secondary School.
