Crisis Response Manual

INTRODUCING THE​ ​CRISIS​ ​RESPONSE SYSTEM​ ​MANUAL:

In 2017, LLEAD collaborated with Latinx leaders around Michigan to create the Crisis Response System Manual. This PDF document details how best to respond to a racial bias incident or crisis in your community. This page provides an introduction to the manual, a link where you can download the complete Crisis Response System Manual, as well as our new Bias Incident Report system form. This form should be not used as a substitute for emergency medical attention or legal advice. Responses to the form will be emailed to the nearest chapter representative, who will then contact you regarding your report.

Excerpt from The Manual:

Since​ ​the​ ​2016​ ​election,​ ​an​ ​upsurge​ ​of​ ​anti-immigrant,​ ​anti-LGBTQ,​ ​anti-Muslim, anti-Black,​ ​and​ ​anti-Latina/o​ ​hate​ ​speech​ ​and​ ​hate​ ​crime​ ​has​ ​threatened​ ​communities around​ ​the​ ​country.​ ​Although racist incidents have always plagued the Latinx community, promises to “Build the Wall” with Mexico and widespread fear of “illegal aliens” “stealing” American jobs, “freeloading” off government benefits, and committing violent crimes have fueled a rise in hate crimes and bias incidents against the Latinx community. And although members of our diverse community identify themselves in many ways — as Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, indigenous, Black or Afro-Latinx, as a nationality such as Puerto Rican or Mexican, or simply as American — our entire community is threatened by such attacks.

Today, although there are nearly half a million Latinx living in Michigan, there is no cohesive statewide effort to report, monitor, and demand justice for anti-Latina/o incidents. As a result, hate crimes and bias incidents are underreported in our communities, and victims and their families lack resources and support. As of October 2017, LLEAD has already seen and intervened in​ ​hate​ ​crimes​ ​and​ ​bias​ ​incidents​ ​in​ ​Lansing​, ​ ​DeWitt​, ​Royal​ ​Oak​, ​Saginaw​, ​​and Holland​, and more surface each month. Our undocumented community members are especially vulnerable during this time, as they may fear that reporting crimes to the police will lead to arrest and deportation. The same is true for our LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community members, who are protected by federal but not state anti-discrimination laws in Michigan. Even those LGBTQ federal protections are being challenged, whittled down, and often undermined or reversed altogether.

We​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​Crisis​ ​Response​ ​Teams​ ​(CRTs)​ ​are​ ​the​ ​best​ ​way​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​and prepare​ ​for​ ​hate​ ​crimes​ ​and​ ​bias​ ​incidents​ ​against​ ​the Latinx community. ​ ​With your help, we will create a grassroots network of local Latinx leaders and advocates across the state of Michigan to provide a swift, effective, community-based response that supports the victim(s), advocates for change, and empowers the Latinx community. The​ ​LLEAD​ ​Crisis​ ​Response​ ​System​ ​Manual​ ​(CRS)​ ​will​ ​prepare​ ​you​ ​to​ ​respond​ ​to anti-Latinx​ ​bias​ ​incidents​ ​and​ ​hate​ ​crimes​ ​in​ ​your​ ​community. ​ This manual will discuss:

  • What is a crisis response system?
  • What is a hate crime or bias incident?
  • How should I respond to a crisis?
  • Who in my community can I call on for support?

Click here to download The Official Crisis Response Manual pdf!

Bias Incident Report Form

I acknowledge this form is not a substitute for emergency legal or medical services.