Hate Incident Sparks Community Awareness Through Public Seminar
RIVERHEAD, NY — In light of recent hateful social media attacks, The Butterfly Effect Project (BEP) is organizing a public seminar to educate community members on differentiating between hate crimes and hate incidents. The event, titled “The Line Between Hate: Understanding and Navigating Hate Incidents and Crimes,” aims to empower attendees with knowledge and actionable steps.
Educational Initiative Amidst Social Media Attacks
The seminar is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, at 6 p.m. at BEP’s headquarters located at 1146 Main Road, Riverhead. This initiative is a collaboration with the Suffolk County Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit, Riverhead Town’s Anti-Bias Task Force, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Tijuana Fulford, founder of the Butterfly Effect Project, expressed the importance of understanding the nuances between hate crimes—acts committed based on bias—and hate incidents, which may not meet legal thresholds. “Families need to understand why certain situations aren’t classified as hate crimes, and more importantly, what steps to take if they experience similar incidents,” Fulford stated.
Background of the Incidents
Earlier this year, BEP faced a wave of racist comments and threats following a social media post announcing their annual Wo/man Empower Wo/men fundraiser. Subsequent events faced disruptions, including a series of threatening calls that led Fulford to cancel the “Pearls of Wisdom” event for safety reasons.
Following the incidents, the Riverhead Police Department filed an official report, which was forwarded to the Suffolk County Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit. Both agencies concluded that the attacks constituted hate incidents rather than crimes, a distinction that Fulford found troubling yet essential to clarify.
Clarifying Definitions and Building Community Resilience
The Suffolk County Police define a hate crime as a specified offense motivated by bias against a person’s protected characteristics—such as race, religion, or sexual orientation—while a hate incident is any act that appears motivated by bias but may not be illegal.
Since the onset of these incidents, BEP has implemented enhanced security measures, including video surveillance and social media filtering systems designed to block derogatory comments. Fulford noted that while adapting to these challenges has incurred significant financial costs, ensuring community safety remains a top priority.
“Once they realized we weren’t backing down, the hateful calls eventually dwindled,” she said. “We are not just explaining our mission but actively showing our commitment to community safety.”
Conclusion and Ongoing Support
The Butterfly Effect Project continues to work closely with law enforcement to foster a safer environment for its programs. For further information on the upcoming seminar, community members can contact The Butterfly Effect Project at info@thebutterflyeffectproject.org.
As this story develops, entities involved and community responses will be monitored for additional updates.
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