The United States fosters a rich assortment of religious practices. Hamline works to promote connection amongst these differing religious organizations in a Multifaith Alliance in the face of religious acts of violence. Nevertheless, the hate persists within the confines of the University.
From 2020 to 2023, the FBI Crime Data Explorer reported that religious based hate crimes made up 18.5% of all the recorded hate crimes. In 2024 and 2025, that percentage has grown to 23.53%. In 2025 alone, there have been 1,727 incidents of religion motivated hate crimes.
Religious places of worship in Minnesota have not escaped these hate crimes. The Minneapolis Temple Israel has been defaced multiple times in the past year. Minneapolis’ Al Hikma Mosque was the victim of a fire on Sept. 29. These attacks are unnerving for many religious individuals, as this place they view as a safe haven faces violence…