SEATTLE (Diya TV) — A non-emergency hate crime hotline launched July 1 in King, Spokane, and Clark counties in Washington State. It gives people a direct way to report incidents without needing to contact law enforcement. Officials say it also offers trauma-informed help and culturally sensitive support.
The Washington Attorney General’s Office manages the new hotline, which is part of an 18-month pilot program under Senate Bill 5427. Lawmakers passed the bill with bipartisan support in 2024. Washington has been one of the top five states in the country for reported hate crimes since 2018, according to FBI data. Attorney General Nick Brown said the hotline is a step toward improving safety and justice for victims.
“Hate crimes not only directly harm individuals but also can instill harm throughout the community,” Brown said. “Success in these three counties will help us expand the hotline statewide and better understand how to combat hate crimes and bias incidents across Washington.”
Residents in the three counties can call the hotline at 1-855-225-1010 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. They can also report incidents online. In an emergency, callers should still contact 911. With a caller’s consent, staff can help report the incident to local police or connect the caller to services like counseling or legal support. Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, sponsored the bill creating the hotline. He said the service builds on past efforts to strengthen hate crime laws.
“We took an important step in 2019 by changing our hate crime laws — but the rise in hate and bias incidents shows there’s still more to do,” Valdez said. “This hotline matters. It’s not just about policy — it’s about people.”
The Sikh Coalition were among a number of organizations strongly supporting the bill. Jasmit Singh, executive director of the Khalsa Gurmat Center and co-founder of the Sikh Coalition, called the hotline a powerful tool for change.
“We commend the establishment of the hotline as a crucial mechanism for those who have experienced prejudice or hate to have their voices heard,” Singh said. “This hotline empowers communities and reinforces the message that hate has no home in Washington state.”
The pilot will run until early 2026. By January 2027, officials plan to expand the hotline statewide. Beginning in July 2027, the Attorney General’s Office will release annual reports on the hotline’s data. These reports will help state leaders, lawmakers, and the public track hate crime trends and response efforts.
Other states have already set up similar hotlines. Oregon launched one in 2020 and has seen call volume rise sharply — from 1,100 calls in 2020 to more than 5,800 last year. However, many of those calls involved spam and harassment, according to a recent report. California also opened a statewide hate hotline in 2023, logging around 1,000 hate-related acts in its first year.
In Washington, police typically receive between 500 and 600 hate crime reports each year, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. These crimes may be based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected traits.
In recent years, Washington lawmakers have made several changes to strengthen the state’s hate crime statute. In 2019, the law’s name changed from “malicious harassment” to “hate crime offense.” Legislators also removed the need for a physical injury to prove a hate crime and added property damage as a qualifying factor.
Another new law, set to take effect this month, clarifies that bias does not need to be the only reason for committing a hate crime. Lawmakers also redefined some outdated terms, such as removing the word “swastika” to respect religious groups that use the ancient symbol.
Not everyone supports the hotline. The Washington State Republican Party called it a “snitch line” and said it could be misused against people with differing viewpoints. Still, many advocates believe the hotline is a critical step toward justice and equity. Catalina Velasquez, executive director of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, said bias incidents often affect everyday life for marginalized groups.
“When immigrant families in my network face verbal harassment that makes them afraid to send their children to school… these are acts of violence,” Velasquez said. The hotline gives these individuals a way to report such experiences and seek help. For more information or to report a hate crime or bias incident in King, Spokane, or Clark County, call 1-855-225-1010 during weekday hours.
