Publish Date

A group of four people sit behind microphones at a table.

Jennifer May-Parker, Chief Counsel for Litigation at the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Eastern District of North Carolina, speaks at the NC Hate Crimes Forum at FTCC on Sept. 19, 2024. [Photo by Brad Losh]

Fayetteville Technical Community College hosted the North Carolina Hate Crimes Forum on Sept. 19, welcoming officials from the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service, as well as local and state officials.

The informational forum focused on hate crime laws and reporting and offered insight into approaches to combat and respond to bias incidents and hate crimes.

Three panels were held — one featuring law enforcement officers, one with officials from government resource departments, and one in which survivors of hate crimes shared their stories.

The event was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service; the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina; the N.C. Department of Justice; the N.C. Human Relations Commission Board; Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project; the Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Department; and FTCC.

A room full of people seated at round tables.

Attendees listen to a panel at the NC Hate Crimes Forum held Sept. 19 at FTCC. [Photo by Brad Losh]

A man in a blue suit speaks at a podium.

The Hon. Michael F. Easley, Jr., US Attorney, Eastern District of North Carolina, speaks during the NC Hate Crimes Forum at FTCC on Sept. 19, 2024. [Photo by Brad Losh]

A man in a white dress shirt and tie speaks at a podium.

FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells delivers remarks at the NC Hate Crimes Forum held at FTCC on Sept. 19, 2024. [Photo by Brad Losh]