WA State Hotline Allows Illegals To Report US Citizens For Free Speech

The Washington State Office of the Attorney General has launched a taxpayer-funded hotline in three counties that would allow residents, including foreign nationals and illegal immigrants, to report U.S. citizens for engaging in legally protected speech and activity, in addition to hate crimes.

The launch of the hate crimes and bias incidents hotline in King, Clark and Spokane counties occurred almost exactly a year after The Center Square reported that Oregon’s hate crime and bias incident hotline mostly tracks legal activities.

Referring to both legal crimes and protected speech, the hotline’s website says “these incidents have a devastating and long-lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities, making people feel unwelcome or unsafe where they live.”

Although crimes can be reported to the hotline, the website says it is a nonemergency reporting line and that those experiencing immediate danger or an active emergency should call 9-11. The website also says the purpose of the hotline is to support those who contact them and “inform Washington’s legislature, governor, law enforcement, and community about the extent of the problem.”

At the same time, the hotline does not collect any information about the person reporting the incident. Nor does it provide legal advice.

According to the website, a bias incident is a “hostile expression of animus … expressing an opinion of hate or bias in a rude, unfriendly, or aggressive manner. A bias incident is an incident that does not rise to the level of a crime or criminal act.”