Top Stories of 2009
Crime Stoppers Looks to Help End Hate Crime
March 16, 2009, Simcoe, Ontario - March 21 is designated by the United Nations (UN) as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It’s a day observed worldwide to focus attention on the problems of racism and the need to promote racial harmony. To help honor this international event, Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg encourages everyone to recognize and report information on things such as hate crime if it exists in their community.
Since partnering provincially with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services one year ago in the creation of an educational DVD, Crime Stoppers programs continue to encourage those with information about hate crime to get involved and anonymously make the call to report any information they may have.
"We want people to know that any form of hate crime is wrong and if someone has information, then we want them to call Crime Stoppers anonymously,” said Gord Little, Chairperson for Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg. He added, “Crime Stoppers offers a viable option for those people who may have information but do not want to get involved as a witness.”
Hate / biased motivated crime is a criminal offence that can be committed against a person or property and is motivated solely, or in part, upon race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or any other similar factor (Ontario Provincial Police www.opp.ca). According to the United Nations Association in Canada, racism refers to a set of beliefs that asserts the superiority of one racial group over another (at the individual as well as the institutional level), as well as individuals or groups of people who exercise power that abuses or disadvantages others (Citizenship & Immigration Canada, www.cic.gc.ca).
The UN designated March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966 to mark a tragic event that took place on March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa when 69 peaceful demonstrators were killed during a protest against apartheid (United Nations, www.un.org).
If you have any information about hate crime, or any crime occurring in your community, contact Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg. Crime Stoppers is a community based organization which provides people with an anonymous, confidential way to relay information to investigators without ever having to get involved as a witness. The program’s toll free 1-800-222-TIPS line and online webtips (www.helpsolvecrime.com) are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and cash rewards up to $2000 are offered for information that helps to solve a case.