A new hotline called CA vs Hate has been launched by California in order to enable residents to report incidents of hate. The announcement was made by Governor Gavin Newsom along with the California Civil Rights Department on Thursday. The hotline will allow Californians to call and snitch on their neighbors for committing “hate acts,” which can be non-violent according to the service’s website.

“A hate incident is a hostile expression or action that may be motivated by bias against another person’s actual or perceived identity,” the website states. “Perpetrators may be motivated by different discriminatory biases, including, but not limited to; bias based on race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender, including gender identity.”

According to the website, examples of “hate incidents” include “refusing service,” “derogatory name-calling,” and bullying. Governor Newsom’s announcement of a new hotline underscores the message that hate will not be tolerated in California.

“We stand firm for a California for All and it is important that we hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and provide resources for those individuals victimized by hate crimes,” he said in a statement. “Now, Californians have another tool to ensure that not only justice is served, but that individuals have access to additional resources to help deal with the lingering wounds that remain after such a horrendous crime occurs.”

If you report to the hotline, law enforcement won’t be involved unless you specifically request it. Information may be shared with them if necessary. The hotline can also connect you with civil legal options and other agencies that don’t involve the criminal legal system. The hotline’s definition of a “hate crime” is broader than the definition in California’s penal code.

In California, the prosecution needs to prove that the accused committed a hate crime willfully, used force, interfered with the victim’s constitutional rights, and did so because of their actual or perceived characteristics (such as religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, or disability). It is not considered a hate crime if it only involves name-calling.