Stratford police are actively investigating a series of weekend social media posts described as appearing(ing) to be motivated by hate.

Police said the discussion and related messages were prompted after a photo of a symbol (that) many people associate with racism was posted to a Stratford-based Facebook site.

Stratford police noted that a hate crime, as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada, is defined as communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace, and/or communicating statements, other than in private conversation, that willfully promoted hared against any identifiable group.

Hate propaganda, police said, can be any writing, sign or visible representation that advocates or promotes hate towards an identifiable group (that) includes race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation.

Hate has a harmful impact on the community with the impacts of such crime being far reaching, extending beyond the physical and emotional trauma to the victim, to encompass other members of the group and the broader community as a whole, the police statement said. It causes emotional trauma to the identified groups that are victimized, and it results in serious friction between different groups in our society.

This trauma and subsequent friction in our society is easily observed by looking at the worldwide response to the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Our community is not unaffected by these incidents and we all must work together to find a better way of overcoming hate.

Stratford police is encouraging community members to report any incidents of hate propaganda, including posts on social media.

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Stratford police investigating social media posts 'motivated by hate' - The Beacon Herald