Billings Community Gathers to Address Hate Crimes and Safety

Community members, local leaders, and advocates gathered at the Billings Public Library to address hate crimes and discuss strategies to make the area safer for residents, KTVQ reported. The forum aimed to educate the public, open dialogues, and identify gaps in how bias-motivated offenses are recognized and addressed within the city.

Personal Experiences With Discrimination Shape Community Dialogue

Pepion recounted experiencing discrimination during her upbringing on a reservation as a light-skinned Native American, where she faced hostility for her appearance, as well as similar treatment when leaving her community. Despite those experiences, Pepion stated that she refuses to respond to hate with hostility.

I’ve just decided that myself, I’m not going to hate anybody.

Lita Pepion

Pepion emphasized that addressing community problems immediately rather than letting them persist is critical for preventing further conflict.

Recent Vandalism Incidents Prompt Organizer Katie Harrison to Action

Recent local incidents, including the vandalism of a South Side mural and hate symbols etched into Mayflower Church in 2025, served as the catalyst for the forum. Katie Harrison, who organized the gathering, said those events motivated her to bring residents together to define hate crimes and improve institutional responses.

I want to work to change that. I think everyone deserves to feel comfortable and safe in their home, in their neighborhood, in their community.

Katie Harrison

Harrison noted that closing reporting gaps relies heavily on fostering direct conversations among neighbors and local advocates.

Identifying Reporting Gaps and Training Needs at Billings Public Library

Participants at the Billings Public Library discussed multiple proposals to improve safety, including expanded training, higher public awareness, and assisting victims in identifying bias-motivated offenses. A central concern raised during the session was that victims often do not realize when an incident qualifies as a hate crime.

To combat underreporting, forum attendees suggested that individuals receiving initial calls or reports from victims should be trained to ask targeted questions to help identify potential bias motivations.

If a person is a victim of a crime and they themselves don’t know that it’s a hate crime, it would be helpful if the person receiving those phone calls could possibly identify that so they know to ask more questions.

Unnamed Forum Participant