Hate crimes forum with law enforcement next month in Iowa City

IOWA CITY - Law enforcement agencies and the NAACP will host a forum on hate crimes next month.

The forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 9 at the University Capitol Center, Room 2520D, 200 S. Capitol St.

Panelists for the forum will include members of the Iowa City Police Department, University of Iowa Department of Public Safety, FBI, Johnson County Attorney's Office, United States Attorney's Office and the NAACP. Discussion topics will include hate-related incidents, applicable laws and the protocols for reporting those crimes, according to a news release.

Those who attend the forum will be able to ask questions.

Iowa City Police Sgt. Derek Frank said the event is not in response to any particular event or crime. Rather, the event is fueled by recent questions from the public about hate crimes, and police said the forum would lead to talk about these kinds of calls for service.

For more information about the forum, contact Frank at 319-356-5293 or derek-frank@iowa-city.org.

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