Published August 8 2023
In partnership with neighboring police departments and community organizations, Bellevue police will participate in a community safety forum focused on education, prevention and reporting of hate crimes and bias incidents.
The forum takes place Thursday, Aug. 10, 6-8:30 p.m. at Sammamish High School, 100 140th Ave SE in Bellevue. The cooperative event has been held annually for five years.
A buffet dinner will be served 6 to 6:30, and childcare will be provided throughout the forum. There will be a presentation, followed by questions and answers, as well as small group discussions. People are encouraged to reserve a spot for the Eastside Community Safety Forum.
In 2022 in Bellevue, 23 hate crimes and five bias-related incidents were reported to police. Like hate crimes, bias incidents – such as insults or profanity – specifically target people based on their perceived race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or religious beliefs. Descriptions, additional resources and instructions for how to report in Bellevue are at Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents.
Officials believe hate crimes and bias-related incidents are under-reported and hope to educate the community about how and when to report to police.
According to the Muslim Community and Neighborhood Association, a primary organizer for the event, “This gathering will be centered around fostering a beloved community, with a particular focus on empowering individuals to report hate and bias incidents to community organizations.”
The other organizations behind the event are Eastside for All, Chinese Information and Service Center, 4Tomorrow, Indian American Community Services and Immigrant Women’s Community Center. In addition to the Bellevue Police Department, representatives from the Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Issaquah and Mercer Island police will be on hand.