Name: _________________________________________ Date: _________________
📖 What is Hate Speech?
Hate speech is language that attacks someone based on who they are - their race, religion, disability, sexuality, or other characteristics.
This includes:
- Slurs, insults, and offensive "jokes"
- Spreading stereotypes or prejudice
- Threatening or inciting violence against groups
- Online posts, comments, and messages
⚖️ It's Against the Law
Hate speech is a criminal offence in the UK. This includes online hate speech.
- Can result in fines or prison
- Goes on your criminal record
- Affects your future
💔 Why Does It Matter?
Hate speech causes real harm:
- Makes people feel unsafe, unwelcome, and worthless
- Can lead to mental health problems
- Creates fear in whole communities
- Can escalate to physical violence
✏️ Activity: What Would You Do?
Scenario: You see someone posting racist comments in a group chat. Some people are laughing, but you know it's wrong.
What could you do?
🦸 Being an Upstander
- Don't laugh - silence can seem like approval
- Speak up - "That's not okay" or "That's not funny"
- Support the target - privately check if they're okay
- Report it - to a teacher, platform, or police
- Don't share - don't spread hateful content
🆘 Report Hate
Stop Hate UK: 0800 138 1625
True Vision: report-it.org.uk
School: Tell a trusted teacher