By: Najla Alexander
NJ AG authorities announced that DCR has launched the Community Peacemaker Collaborative, a new initiative designed to respond to the rise in bias and hate in New Jersey, including the significant uptick in antisemitism and Islamophobia in recent months.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) stated that DCR’s Community Relations Unit has received a $347,000, four-year federal grant through the United States Department of Justice’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Program to fund the initiative.
Officials said as part of the Department’s comprehensive approach to addressing bias and hate, the Community Peacemaker Collaborative will train local community members to deescalate conflict in their communities in response to bias incidents.
The new initiative seeks to prevent and respond to bias incidents by training individuals across all 21 counties – including community and student leaders – on best practices for responding to bias incidents and conflict resolution techniques, officials stated.
“In New Jersey, we will not stand idly by as the rise in bias and hate threatens the safety and security of our residents. Our diversity is our strength, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that all New Jerseyans can live without fear,” said Attorney General Platkin.
“The Division on Civil Rights has worked hard to increase awareness of the harm caused by bias and hate incidents, to educate the public about ways to respond to these incidents when they do happen, and, importantly, to implement strategies to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place."
"The initiative announced today builds on that important work, providing even more tools for us – and every New Jerseyan – to combat bias.”
“Hate tears at the fabric of our communities, and it makes our residents feel less safe. Unfortunately, in recent months, we have witnessed an alarming increase in bias incidents, and particularly in bias targeting our Jewish and Muslim communities,” said Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights.
“So we must continue to develop innovative public education and enforcement strategies to protect New Jerseyans from bias and hate. We know that there is much more work to do to fight the rise in bias and hate across our state, and our office is committed to using every lever at our disposal – and working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners – as part of the fight.”
According to preliminary data compiled by the New Jersey State Police, available for review on the Office of Justice Data’s new Bias Incident Dashboard, 2,699 bias incidents were reported to law enforcement agencies across New Jersey in 2023, a 22 percent increase compared to 2022.
As in past years, officials said, the preliminary 2023 data shows that anti-Black and anti-Jewish bias remained the most common race- and religion-based motivations for reported bias incidents.
Officials say although these statistics are subject to change while reporting is finalized, the increase in bias incidents underscores the critical importance of taking a multipronged approach to eradicating hate and bias in New Jersey.
Authorities say the Community Peacemaker Collaborative adds an important new tool in the State’s efforts to combat bias and hate.
Under Attorney General Platkin’s leadership, the Department has taken decisive action to combat the rise in bias and hate, according to officials.
Officials said these actions include comprehensive efforts to address bias incidents in K-12 schools and on college and university campuses, to use civil and criminal enforcement authority to respond to bias and hate and to engage in public education, training, and outreach across New Jersey.
More information about the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat bias and hate can be found here, officials say.
Members of the public are encouraged to report bias incidents via the NJBIAS online portal at https://bias.njcivilrights.gov, to their local police departments, or by calling 800-277-BIAS.