Bias and Hate Crimes Task Force
The Mayor's Task Force on Bias Incidents/Hate Crimes released a report in November 2002 outlining its findings and recommendations in eliminating racially motivated incidents in the Kansas City Area.
On May 6, 2002, Mayor Kay Barnes announced her appointments to the Bias Incidents/Hate Crimes Task Force. The Task Force was chaired by Gwendolyn Grant, President and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Urban League, and Carolyn Vellar, former Executive Director of Northland Neighborhoods Inc.
The purpose of the task force was to investigate the two racially motivated incidents that occurred in Kansas City North and to make recommendations as to what steps should be taken to eliminate or eradicate racially motivated incidents in Kansas City North. In addition to conducting an investigation, the task force convened community input sessions and focus groups to ascertain the degree to which racially motivated incidents had occurred or were occurring in the areas of education, business and economic development, police/community relations, racial profiling, and neighborhood groups. Participants from the nonprofit, governmental and private sectors were asked to provide input on:
The extent to which racially motivated incidents and hate crimes were occurring
How to increase awareness of such incidents and provide outreach to the victims
How to improve responsiveness of police, city officials and the community at large
How to build community trust.
The report and the community input sessions are available by request. Contact the Human Relations Department at 816-513-1836 or by e-mail at hrdgeneral_inquiries@kcmo.org.
