Attorney General Anthony Brown is accepting membership applications for the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) invites anyone who represents or advocates for individuals impacted by hate in Maryland to apply. The Maryland Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention is charged with the development of strategies to address hate crimes and hate bias activity and the evaluation of Maryland laws and policies related to hate crimes.
The Commission submits annual reports to the State Department of Education and Maryland General Assembly with policy and legislative recommendations to address hate crimes in schools and the broader community. Since the Commission was formed last year, current members have assisted with the creation of an OAG hate crimes reporting web portal, which is expected to launch soon. Commission members also participated in the ongoing series of statewide Hate Bias Incident Reporting Forums led by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and the OAG. Last month, the General Assembly enacted legislation that changed the composition of the Commission and ended the terms of its current members effective June 1, 2024. Under the new legislation, the Attorney General will appoint new members to the Commission, some requiring the advice and consent of the Maryland Senate. While the legislation is not yet law, the process of selecting Commission members is underway. “The work of the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention is vital to ensuring Marylanders can live free of fear in their homes and in the community,” said Attorney General Brown. “Membership on the Commission is an opportunity to make an impact, so my Office is working to ensure the Commission can get back to work.” The new Commission will be composed of 25 members. As reorganized, 15 members will be selected based on their representation or advocacy on behalf of a class of persons identified under Maryland’s current hate crimes law, including race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and homelessness. These 15 members must be The Commission is composed of five subcommittees on which members are expected to serve.
These include:
• Addressing Hate Incidents in Schools
• Law Enforcement Training and Engagement
• Restorative Justice
• Community Engagement
• Online and Cyberbullying
All Commission members are required to abide by the Operating Guidelines.
Applications will be evaluated for appointment based on the following criteria: membership in, or advocacy for, a protected group identified in the statute; a demonstrated commitment to advocacy in Maryland; geographic diversity; willingness and ability to participate in the work of the Commission; and a commitment to the Commission’s rules and values. Applicants are also asked if they are willing to share if they have been the victim of hate and are willing to speak about that experience to inform the work of the Commission.
The link to the application can be found here: https://bit.ly/44u401E
Original source can be found here.