ADL Briefs Nebraska U.S. Attorney’s Office on Domestic Extremism

Date: July 29, 2009

In July, ADL Plains States Regional Director Alan Potash met with the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council at the U.S. Attorney's office in Nebraska to present a briefing on domestic extremism and hate crimes in the state.

According to a recent report by the Nebraska Crime Commission, the state saw a 14 percent escalation in hate crimes in 2008 compared to the previous year. Racial bias was involved in 62 percent of the hate crimes, sexual bias accounted for 14 percent, ethnic bias comprised 12 percent and religious bias made up 11 percent.

With a nationwide trend of recent hate-driven violence impacting the Midlands, ADL Plains States works closely with law enforcement, legislators and legal groups to monitor extremist groups, their activity and rhetoric.

One of the many results of the meeting is that the ADL Education Division is partnering with the U.S. Attorney's office to offer a mini-Cyberbullying workshop for law enforcement to better understand the dangers of cyberbullying and focus on the legalities surrounding it.