Crimestoppers is looking to get the word out that intolerance won’t be tolerated.
Members of the community were concerned when an alleged racially motivated sexual assault took place in the city late last year. Those concerned residents raised money and wanted to help Crimestoppers by rewarding people who may have had information on the incident.
Thunder Bay Police Service Const. Julie Tilbury said because of the anonymous nature of Crimestoppers, she wouldn’t have been able to tell the concerned citizens whether tips had come in or if any money had been paid out.
“We cannot report back to any agencies. We have to protect our tipsters,” Tilbury said.
So instead, Crimestoppers, Evergreen a United Neighbourhood and the city’s crime prevention council are partnering up to start an awareness campaign about crimes motivated by hate.
“We are trying to get a really strong message out to our community about what hate bias motivated crimes are and that they are unacceptable,” Tilbury said.
Research shows that victims and perpetrators of those types of crimes are teens and young adults, which is where Tilbury wants to start. Early education can have long term results she said.
It will focus on all types of hate crimes from race to gender to age.
Tilbury is hoping to start the campaign next month and get into local schools by next fall.
