Have you ever been biased or made an assumption about a person because they acted, looked, spoke, or had a different opinion than you? If so, that’s a form of prejudice. Did you treat them differently or unfairly? That’s discrimination.

Your religion, race, height, nationality, and even your gender are factors that many people make quick judgments or have prejudices about. Unfortunately, most of these judgments are based on biases and assumptions, rather than fact. Discrimination can lead to hate and violence.

Hate crime is on the rise in the United States. The number of hate crimes reported has consistently ranged around 7,500 or more annually. That means that there is a victim of a hate crime nearly every hour of every day. You can help! Ask your teachers about ways you can celebrate diversity at your school. To learn more, please visit www.dosomething.org, www.civilrights.org or www.hamanrightsfirst.org. Also check out Diversity Web or the Civil Rights Project. Make the world a more loving, peaceful place!