Mobilizing Against Hate
Resource and Action Center
‘The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all.”- Jane Addams
Social workers have long held the value
and the importance of collaboration, community-building, unity, and social
justice, and the notion that an attack on one community is an attack on
all
communities. No one – no individual, no family, no community and no society - is safe when discrimination, prejudice,
injustice, and hatred towards any group or groups is allowed to flourish. And
yet that is the very circumstance in which we find ourselves today.
According to the U.S. Department of
Justice, anti-Black or anti-African American hate crimes continue to be the
largest bias incident victim category (US DOJ), but hate crimes in general are
on the rise. In 2023, ADL tabulated 8,873 antisemitic incidents across the U.S,
a 140% increase from 2022 and the highest number recorded since ADL began
tracking antisemitic incidents since 1979. Similarly, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations 2024 Report revealed the highest number of
complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Hate crimes against the
Asian population increased by 145% in the 16 largest cities in the U.S. in 2020
compared with 2019 (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Feb. 2023), and the ACLU
is currently tracking 527 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S. Recent attacks and
accusations against immigrants only add to the risk of biases and
discrimination already vulnerable immigrant groups.
At NASW, we know the anxiety, trauma, fear,
distrust, and social discord this divisiveness leads to, and we know the
importance of stopping that damage before it causes even more harm to
individuals, families, and communities across the country. As such, we will
continue to advocate for anti-hate laws, to support the global community and
all efforts to bring about peace through our membership in the International
Federation of Social Workers. We will support all those affected by the trauma of discrimination
and hate crimes and do our best to end the systemic inequities that allow
discrimination and hate crimes to go unchecked. Our goal is to promote safety,
diversity, and inclusion throughout the social work profession, and for the
individuals and communities social workers serve.
The resources on this page provide background information and action steps that can be taken to help us achieve these goals and promote the physical and emotional safety all members of society deserve.