Minnesota has experienced a disturbing rise in hate crimes over the past three years, with annual reports ranging from 185 to 274 incidents. Following reporting disruptions tied to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), 2022 saw a sharp 32% drop in documented incidents, followed by a 13% increase in 2023, totaling 209 cases. Nearly half of these incidents were based on race or ethnicity, while over 21% were driven by religious bias. More than 60% involved direct crimes against people, assault, threats, or harassment, while 37% were property-based. These numbers likely underrepresent the full extent of hate, given widespread underreporting.

For Minnesota’s Muslim communities, the threat has become especially acute. Between 2022 and 2024, the state led the nation in attacks on mosques and Islamic centers, with over 40 incidents—including vandalism, arson, and intimidation—causing more than $3 million in damages. Concentrated in the Twin Cities, these crimes reflect an alarming surge in Islamophobia and have left many Muslim residents feeling targeted, unsafe, and unheard. This toolkit exists to confront that reality, with data, reporting tools, and critical resources for response and protection.

Source: Southern Poverty Law Center

Source: Minnesota Crime Data Explorer

1. Understanding Hate Crimes in Our State

Definition under state and federal law:

Minnesota State Law: A hate crime is a criminal offense motivated by bias against a victim’s actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, or disability. These crimes carry enhanced penalties under state law.
Federal Law (U.S. DOJ): A hate crime is a criminal act motivated by bias against a person’s race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity. The DOJ distinguishes between hate crimes and hate incidents—the latter being acts of prejudice that do not involve a crime, violence, threat, or property damage.

Difference between hate crime and hate incident:

Gaps in hate crime data collection:

Hate crime data reporting is incomplete for many reasons. Only a fraction of the more than 18,000 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies reported even a single hate crime to the FBI in 2023. Many agencies lack the training to identify, report, and respond to hate crimes. Only 19 states have laws requiring that officers be trained to identify and investigate hate crimes. Numerous police departments also have misconceptions about handling hate crimes. According to a national survey by ProPublica, many agencies wrongly believe it is up to prosecutors to deem an incident a hate crime. In fact, state law definitions of what constitutes a hate crime are irrelevant for FBI data collection purposes, as outlined in their comprehensive Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines and Training Manual. And, though the FBI itself has begun reporting hate crimes, many federal law enforcement agencies—and the military service branches—do not. It is estimated that two-thirds of hate crimes are unreported, and nearly 80% of jurisdictions claim there were no hate crimes.

2. Recognizing Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents

Bias-motivated hate crimes often stem from harmful narratives and stereotypes that dehumanize entire communities. In the case of Muslim Minnesotans, these biases are reinforced through repeated tropes that portray Muslims as violent, oppressive, foreign, or incompatible with American values. Recognizing these patterns is essential to understanding how hate manifests, not just through actions, but through the stories that justify them. Below are common narratives used to target Muslim individuals and communities.

3. Impact of Islamophobia in Minnesota

Islamophobia in Minnesota has escalated in recent years, with Muslim communities experiencing both violent attacks and systemic discrimination. Below are two major areas where this impact is most visible:

Mosque Vandalism & Arson: In spring 2023, at least six mosques in Minneapolis and St. Paul were vandalized or targeted with arson over the span of a few weeks. Many sustained severe damage and were part of a broader surge in hate-motivated crimes in the Twin Cities region. The Oromo American Tawhid Islamic Center in St. Paul was completely burned in May 2023, one in a spate of incidents that deeply shook the Muslim community.

Anti-Muslim Harassment on University of Minnesota Campus: Since October 2023, students at the University of Minnesota have reported multiple incidents of verbal harassment, particularly directed at Muslim and pro-Palestinian students. On October 17, 2023, a man yelled “All you f—ing Muslim terrorists” at a group of protestors outside Coffman Union. On October 22, similar verbal abuse continued during a pro-Palestinian event the day following a student protest on campus. Many students described a lack of timely university response and insufficient administrative follow-through, leading to concerns about campus climate and safety for visibly Muslim students, especially for Muslim women students who wear the hijab.

These incidents are not isolated. They represent a broader pattern of rising Islamophobia in Minnesota that demands not only awareness but action—through reporting, accountability, and structural support for Muslim communities.

4. How To Report A Hate Crime

Call 911 for immediate help
Contact state agencies, civil rights organizations, and trusted community-based groups that collect hate crime data and provide support: CAIR, Communities Combating Hate Coalition, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, the Civil Rights Division, and Southern Poverty Law Center.

5. Supporting Victims & Survivors

Immediate safety & emotional support resources for victims and survivors in Minnesota: Sukoon, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Mental Health Minnesota.

Digital safety planning for individuals, families, and organizations: Equality Labs.
Legal aid and victim compensation programs: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Hennepin County Victim Services, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.

6. Legal & Policy Advocacy

If you are a Minnesotan who has experienced a hate crime, there are several legal, policy, and advocacy resources available to help you report the incident, seek protection, and pursue justice. The following list includes resources that specialize in cases involving race, religion, or national origin, including Islamophobia.