Harassment hotline opens in Seattle

SEATTLE — The Seattle Office for Civil Rights announced a new hotline for people to report harassment in Seattle Wednesday.

The hotline is part of the city’s Bias Hurts Campaign for Seattle residents and business owners who are the targets of discriminatory harassment, including threats, slurs, intimidation and cyberbullying.

"As a community, we need to take care of one another as much as we can,” said SOCR Director Patricia Lally.

The campaign includes a hotline (206-233-7100) to report harassment, meetings with community groups to learn what people are experiencing and how the city can address them, and a media campaign including print ads, social media, ads on buses and trains, radio and outreach to community groups.

Anyone who experiences physical violence, property damage or threats should call 911.

Those who experience discriminatory harassment in housing, employment, or public places that does not rise to the level of a crime may call the SOCR hotline.

The SOCR says it is illegal in Seattle to harass someone based on race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and other protected groups. SOCR can investigate allegations of discriminatory harassment, issue findings and mandate remedies.

• Report discriminatory harassment to SOCR by calling 206-233-7100.
• Report bias-related crime to Seattle Police by calling 911.
• Visit the Seattle Police Department's Bias/Hate Crime Data Dashboard.

Cox Media Group