HARRISBURG, Pa. (Erie News Now) – Monday, the Wolf Administration announced a large investment in the fight against hate crimes. According to the Pennsylvania State Police Uniform Crime Reporting System, there were 347 hate crimes in 2021- a 210 percent increase from 2020.
In 2022, there have been 183 reported hate crimes. The monthly average for this year is about a 30 percent decrease from last year. Although it’s a trend in the right direction, the Wolf Administration continues to take steps to provide resources for organizations and individuals that may experience hate crimes.
“Hate has no place here in Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Wolf. “No Pennsylvanian should be afraid to worship with their community, love who they love, or be who they are – that’s why this program is so important to me and I’ve committed $20 million to protecting the diverse communities of this commonwealth,” he added.
Today’s announcement of an additional $5 million will be available for non-profit organizations, especially in diverse communities, to enhance security, safety, technology, and training.
The $5 million will be administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The program was signed into law by Governor Wolf one year after the Pittsburgh tree of life synagogue shooting that claimed eleven lives in Oct. 2018. Since signing the legislation into law, the administration has invested $15 million in over 350 projects across the state to protect churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and other non-profit organizations from hate crimes.
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program administers grants to organizations that are included within a bias motivation category identified by the FBI, such as race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and more.
Grant awards will range from $5,000 – $150,000 for a wide variety of eligible items. PCCD is accepting applications through Monday Oct. 31. Awards will be announced in December.
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