After Pittsburgh attack, US Justice Department launches hate crimes website
Online platform to centralize information for police, media, researchers, victims and others
WASHINGTON, United States — The US Justice Department launched a new website to combat hate crimes Monday, two days after 11 worshipers were shot dead in a Pittsburgh synagogue.
The website centralizes resources about hate crimes for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups and others.
It brings together training materials, technical assistance, videos, research reports, statistics and other information.
“Individuals should be able to live their lives free from the threat of violence and discrimination, no matter who they are, what they believe, or how they worship,” Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore said in a statement.
“We will continue to prioritize our work bringing perpetrators of hate crimes to justice throughout the country.”
The Justice Department said it has charged more than 300 defendants with hate crimes offenses over the past 10 years.
Robert Bowers, the 46-year-old man who attacked the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, is charged with hate crimes among other offenses.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced meanwhile an $840,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice for a new research study on hate crimes data collection.
The hate crimes website is available through the Justice Department site at www.justice.gov.
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