Western Inland Empire Coalition Against Hate: History

WIECAH's History

In February 2000 Vermont McKinney, a mediator with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service, contacted the Riverside/San Bernardino Human Relations Commissions, the Riverside and San Bernardino Police Departments, and the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department to formulate an anti-hate crimes network.

The meeting culminated in the creation of a bi-county partnership of law enforcement, local government human relations commissions, faith based organizations, civil rights groups, and schools to create a coalition dedicated to educating the public in both counties regarding the consequences of hate crimes, promoting diversity, and partnershipping with law enforcement and the courts in eradicating hate crimes. The planning committee determined that there was a need for a coalition or network in the two county areas similar to other anti-hate crime networks in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

The committee determined that there were significant issues to be addressed.

An apparent under reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents.
A lack of communication, cooperation, and coordination between governmental, law enforcement, civil rights, religious, and non-profit organizations.
A lack of education and awareness with the public regarding hate crimes and the consequences to the community of such behavior.

Recognizing that community-based problems like hate crimes required community-based solutions, the committee formed the Inland Empire Coalition Against Hate, later renamed the Western Inland Empire Coalition Against Hate (WIECAH), with a mission statement and objectives in reducing hate-related offenses.

WIECAH exists to supplement reporting efforts, to provide education and awareness to the public, generate dialogue on the issue of diversity and intolerance, and assist victims of hate violence with referrals or counseling.

WIECAH sponsored two forums in April 2000 in Riverside and San Bernardino on hate crimes and the consequences of hate-related violence and incidents. WIECAH formed four sub committees to address specific issues related to hate crimes and hate violence.

The Resources sub committee chaired by Professor Brian Levin, California State University San Bernardino.
The Support Network sub committee chaired by Chani Beeman.
The Communications/Networking sub committee chaired by Captain Mike Kinsman.
The Youth Partnership sub committee chaired by Professor Robert Gill, University of California Riverside.

WIECAH hosts quarterly meetings, alternating between San Bernardino and Riverside counties, on issues and contemporaneous concerns related to Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents; education, reporting, and collaboration between community organizations to promote diversity and reduce racial adversity. WIECAH has co-sponsored or co-hosted other conferences or seminars, i.e. Judy Shepard’s lecture at UCR, with other organizations on hate and intolerance related subjects.

WIECAH co-hosted the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Commission on Hate Crimes in Riverside in September 2000. In February 2001 WIECAH established a toll-free hotline, CALL 1-951-892-4834 to assist victims in reporting hate crimes by coordinating those reports with law enforcement and to provide victims counseling referrals to other agencies to reduce the trauma of the hate crimes.

For more information, please send an e-mail to wiecah@wiecah.org or call 1-866-NO2HATE.

CALL 1-951-892-4834