Hate Free Colorado was established in 2017 and is a diverse group of community partners who are dedicated to countering hate crimes in Colorado. The coalition currently has 18 members from a variety of civil rights and advocacy organizations in Colorado, as well as seven law enforcement partners.

The purpose of the Coalition is to develop collaborative strategies and programs to respond to incidents of hate, educate the community on the impact of hate crimes and hate crimes laws, increase reporting of hate crimes, develop strategies to prevent hate crimes and incidents of hate, and promote the safety of vulnerable populations and the community at large.

A hate crime targets an individual, institution or property because of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation. Hate crimes such as a bias motivated assault typically carry a stiffer penalty than an assault without the bias component. Read Colorado’s hate crime law here.

Hate crimes are meant to scare, intimidate or humiliate the target. They have an impact that lingers and extends beyond the specific victim. They make members of minority communities fearful, angry and suspicious, and raise tensions that can divide and polarize neighborhoods, towns and cities.