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Hate is bias against people or groups with specific characteristics that are defined by law.

The specific categories are:

• Race, color, ethnicity
• National origin
• Religion
• Gender, gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Disability
• Association with person or group (actual or perceived) covered by the above categories

In the United States, there is no legal definition of “hate speech.” The term is understood as any form of expression or communication—including spoken, written, or visual—that attacks or discriminates against a particular individual or group based on their identity traits such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or any other characteristic that is protected under the law.

Hate speech is often used to spread harmful stereotypes, promote prejudice and discrimination, and incite violence or hostility towards certain individuals or groups. It can have a serious impact on the psychological well-being of its targets and can contribute to a broader climate of intolerance and discrimination.

While most speech is protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution, hate speech can become a crime when it directly incites criminal activity or uses specific threats of violence targeted against a person or group. 

Crime against a person, group, or property motivated by the victim’s real or perceived protected group. Hate crimes are often violent in nature, although this is not a required condition, and are actions that may result in imprisonment or jail time.

Examples include:

• Murder
• Assault
• Arson
• Vandalism
• Threats to commit the above
• Conspiring or asking others to commit the above (even if crime never carried out)

An action or behavior motivated by hate against a protected group, but not considered a crime as the action itself is constitutionally protected, as in the case of free speech. While not technically crimes, they can often have an affect on the targeted demographic.

Examples of hate incidents include:

• Name calling, slurs and insults
• Displays of hate material on personal property
• Posting hate materials that do not result in property damage
• Distribution of hate materials in public places