Philadelphia Officials Target Recent Flare-Up Of Hate Crimes

by Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia officials have put out a warning to anyone feeling emboldened to commit crimes of bias against marginalized groups.

The statement was jointly issued by the police commissioner, the city solicitor, and the district attorney, framed as a "reminder" that so-called "hate crimes" will be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law."

D.A. Seth Williams says that includes a hate crimes task force.

"I have assigned six different assistant district attorneys, based on geography, that will prosecute those cases. We're going to be working in close cooperation with the police department to investigate any and all of those crimes," said Williams

Williams says this is a response to incidents following the election of Donald Trump, including the targeting of black freshman at Penn for hate email.

Those emails came from Oklahoma. Williams says he has more faith in Philadelphians, who may find the statement more re-assurance than threat.

"Philadelphia's called the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection for a reason. We want to make sure that people hear this message, that we're not going to tolerate it," he said.

He asks victims or witnesses to such crimes to call not only 9-1-1 but also the Human Relations Commission.