Interrupting Hate Starts with Us
July 21, 2025
In early July, the Idaho State Police released its 2024 report on crime in Idaho, offering a detailed snapshot of statewide trends. While the overall crime rate declined by 6.6%, one alarming statistic stands out: reported hate crimes rose by 21% compared to the previous year. Behind that number are real people–friends, neighbors, classmates, coworkers–targeted for simply being who they are. Each incident represents significant harm experienced by individuals and communities. And because hate crimes are chronically underreported, the true extent of the damage is likely far worse.
A hate crime is defined as “a criminal offense committed against a person or property which is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias against a race/national origin, religion, sexual orientation, mental/physical disability, or ethnicity.” According to the report, 43% of incidents were motivated by race, 25% by sexual orientation, 19% by ethnicity, and 12% by religion (notably, the report categorizes “Arab” under religion, though it is an ethnicity). Victims ranged in age from 11 to over 60 years old, and incidents took place in 16 counties across Idaho. While the rise in hate crimes might not come as a surprise, this data paints a concerning picture and demands our attention.
At the Wassmuth Center, we often turn to the Spiral of Injustice to understand how societies devolve. The spiral begins with language–words, images, and symbols that dehumanize, divide, and label people as “less than.” When this language is used by leaders–whether in politics, religion, media, or civic life–it becomes legitimatized and contagious, paving the way for avoidance, discrimination, violence, and ultimately, elimination. But just as words can wound, they can also heal. When leaders unequivocally denounce hate, they reinforce the boundaries of what a just society will–and will not–tolerate.
The corollary to the Spiral of Injustice is a question we must all ask: What actions can we take to interrupt it? The ISP report makes clear that hate crimes don’t just occur in distant or extreme contexts. They happen in the regular spaces of our lives: parks, stores, churches, classrooms, front porches. These are the areas where we have both the responsibility and the power to act. We don’t need to wear a superhero cape to make a difference; courage can look like calling in a harmful joke, refusing to laugh at cruelty, asking a hard question, or standing next to someone who has been made to feel alone. These small, everyday choices are actually not small at all. They are the building blocks of a safer and more just world.
Each of us moves through circles of influence – families, workplaces, faith communities, friend groups, sports teams. Within those communities, we can choose to lead. We can model respect, ask questions, push back against harmful stereotypes, and extend dignity to those around us. While we reasonably expect our leaders to set the tone, we don’t have to wait for them. Whether or not they rise to meet this moment, we can.
Together, we can build communities rooted in welcome, belonging, and the unwavering belief in every person’s humanity. Let’s keep showing up – for one another and for the kind of Idaho we know is possible.