Attorney General Loretta Lynch is asking America to remain vigilant amidst the spike in hate crimes.
In a video statement Friday addressing the disturbing increase of hate-based attacks in the country, she called on civilians to continue to report these type of crimes, as well as incidents of harassment and intimidation.
“We need you to continue to report these incidents to local law enforcement, as well as the Justice Department, so that our career investigators and prosecutors can take action to defend your rights,” she said.
The FBI recently released new hate crime statistics from 2015, showing a seven percent rise last year. Incidents targeting Muslims alone jumped 67 percent.
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Reports of hate crimes and harassment have also spiked since Donald Trump’s election.
“Beyond these 2015 statistics, I know that many Americans are concerned by a spate of recent news reports about alleged hate crimes and harassment,” Lynch said. She added that the numbers are likely much higher, as many people do not report these crimes out of shame or fear.