Austin Council Moves to Create Hate Crimes Task Force, Evaluate Existing Anti-Hate Program

Austin council moves to create hate crimes task force, evaluate existing anti-hate program

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thursday, Austin City Council approved a resolution that would create a city-led hate crimes task force and re-evaluate an anti-hate program created by the city in 2023. "It's going to be a better avenue to get data, I think it's going to be a better avenue to report a hate crime, and you don't directly have to go through APD," Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri said. He authored the resolution. According to council documents,…

Austin’s hate crime task force restructures to a city-led initiative

The Austin City Council approved a resolution Thursday to transition the Hate Crimes Task Force from an external initiative to a city-led model housed within the Office of Equity and Inclusion.  Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, who sponsored the resolution, wrote in an email that the transition will enhance community access to hate crime reporting by directing the city to build a Hate Crimes Web Portal and establish a network of trained communi…