The FBI wants you to let them know if you see or are the victim of a hate crime.

The Department of Justice defines a hate crime as motivated by bias against race, color, religion, national origin sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

If you believe you are victim or a witness of a hate crime, you are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip at tips.fbi.gov.

You may remain anonymouS.

Hate crimes are the FBI civil rights program’s highest priority, according to Kevin Wheeler of the FBI’s Columbia office.

The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting’s annual Hate Crime Statistics showed an increase from 7,764 reported in the US in 2020 compared to 7,314 in 2019.

South Carolina reported 110 incidents in 2020 compared to 57 reported in 2019.

“No one should ever be subjected to hate crimes,” said Susan Ferensic, FBI’s Special Agent in Charge of the Columbia office.