Mikayla Roberts, Hampton University - News21 Summer 2022
Mikayla Roberts muh-kay-luh rah-berts (she/her/hers)

Mikayla Roberts is a graduating senior at Hampton University, majoring in journalism with a minor in sociology. She worked with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland on its 2021 project Printing Hate.

Fighting hate: Approaches range from expanding hate crime definitions to gathering data

LOS ANGELES – The system for reporting hate in America is broken. The FBI’s database has limited scope, and people often don’t – or sometimes can’t – report hate crimes to authorities. But federal, state and local entities are tackling hate in a variety of ways – from expanding definitions and launching hotlines to capturing data.

A chalkboard filled with drawings of staff and a large rainbow hangs near the front desk at the TransLatin@ Coalition office in Los Angeles on July 5, 2022. Jimena Sandoval, the group’s communications and marketing coordinator, says it was drawn for Pride Month. (Photo by Jessica Alvarado Gamez/News21)