March 3, 2022
-Calgary Herald
The Calgary Police Service is investigating multiple reports of potential hate speech targeting local Russian-Calgarians on social media.
In a release, the service says its patrol officers and members of its hate crimes and extremism team are investigating the incidents.
The release suggests the incidents happened on a single social media platform but does not specify which one.
“Hate-motivated crimes have no place in our community, and we will not tolerate criminal behaviour associated with hate speech and harassment,” said Sergeant Matt Messenger of the hate crimes and extremism team in a release. “We encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of a hate crime, or who may have witnessed one, to please come forward and report it to police.”
Calgary police define hate-motivated crimes as those motivated by prejudice of nine personal characteristics of the victim, including race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, language, mental or physical disability, sex, age, or other similar factors.