Hate Crimes Prevention
MCN is putting community safety first through hate crime prevention workshops at masjids, schools, hospitals, and community centers.
MCN’s hate crime prevention initiative is divided into 3 main areas: Community Safety training, Hate Crime Prevention Survey Data Collection, and Policy Advocacy. For Community Safety Trainings, MCN provides workshops that educate members of the community on what hate crimes and bias incidents are, how to prevent hate, where to report it to, and resources available to victims. During these sessions, data is collected through MCN’s hate crime survey on anti-religious hate crimes against Muslim communities in NYC to inform anti-discrimination laws and policies. Our 2022, hate crime report can be found below.
Thirdly, we have been advocating on the city, state, and national levels to speak up against hate crimes and advocate for policies to prevent hate.
MCN’s hate crime prevention initiative is divided into 3 main areas: Community Safety training, Hate Crime Prevention Survey Data Collection, and Policy Advocacy. For Community Safety Trainings, MCN provides workshops that educate members of the community on what hate crimes and bias incidents are, how to prevent hate, where to report it to, and resources available to victims. During these sessions, data is collected through MCN’s hate crime survey on anti-religious hate crimes against Muslim communities in NYC to inform anti-discrimination laws and policies. Our 2022, hate crime report can be found below.
Thirdly, we have been advocating on the city, state, and national levels to speak up against hate crimes and advocate for policies to prevent hate.
Community Safety Training
So far in 2022, we have conducted community safety trainings with 10 different communities reaching over 300 New York Muslims.
MCN Statement for House Judiciary Committee
MCN submitted a written statement as a testimony for Congress House Judiciary Hearing on Discrimination and the Civil Rights of the Muslim, Arab, and South Asian American Communities. This was a historical hearing and the first of its kind to happen in decades.
Community Recommendations for Preventative Measures for NY Lawmakers
1) NYC Council Pass Resolution 1257
For the DOE to include religious diversity courses in the curriculum and provide training staff, administration, and educators in this area. Consequently the preferred preventative measure to counter hate crime, in our surveyed population, is more education on Islam so that fewer of these outbursts occur out of a lack of knowledge and a generalized association of Muslims with 9/11 [1].
Mandate accurate classification of hate crimes in school reporting and immediate and full disclosure to parents of hate crime stats.
Establish a zero-tolerance policy in schools for faith-based bullying and discrimination, including policies about: respect for clothing and in-school accommodations for prayer space and time all year round.
2) Congress Pass H.R. 4402 Safe School Improvement Act
Requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students.
LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level.
The Department of Education must conduct and report on independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.
3) Congress Pass S.597 ERRPA End Racial and Religious Profiling Act
This bill establishes a framework to eliminate racial profiling at the federal, state, and local levels.
Requires federal law enforcement agencies to maintain policies and procedures to eliminate racial profiling, including training, data collection, and complaint procedures.
To enforce violations, the bill authorizes civil suits by the Department of Justice and affected individuals.