Taking action against hate is a powerful statement of support for the person targeted, and it can make the perpetrator think differently about their actions.
Being a bystander means witnessing harmful or unjust behaviour, but it’s not just about observing. You have the power to make a difference by stepping up, speaking out, and intervening when it's safe. Bystander intervention can challenge hate, harassment, and discrimination. Here’s how you can be an ally by effectively responding to different forms of hate.
What is bystander action?
A bystander is anyone who observes a harmful or discriminatory act but is not directly involved. Bystander action occurs when that person steps in to disrupt, de-escalate, or prevent further harm. Bystanders play a crucial role in promoting safe, respectful environments by challenging behaviour that contributes to hate and inequality. Taking action can be a powerful way to stand up for others and support those who experience harm.
Your first priority should always be ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the person being targeted. Ask them if they are okay, and if they need any immediate support. When responding, always assess the situation to ensure you are not putting yourself, or others, at risk.
The 5Ds of bystander intervention
The 5Ds of bystander intervention are practical techniques anyone can use to safely intervene in harmful situations. These strategies offer different ways to respond depending on the context and your comfort level:
Distract: Creating a distraction is a simple but effective way to interrupt harmful behaviour. The goal is to divert attention away from the harassment without directly confronting the harasser. Keep the focus on engaging with the person being harassed and avoid bringing up the harassment itself. You can ask a question, start a conversation, or even drop something to redirect attention away from the person being targeted.
Keys to good distraction include:
- Ignoring the person doing the harassing and engaging with the person being targeted.
- Talking about anything unrelated to the harassment to redirect the situation.
Examples
Here are some examples you can try:
- Pretend to be lost and ask the person being harassed to give you directions. Ask them for the time.
- Pretend you know the person being harassed and act excited to have “randomly” run into them. Talk to them about something random, as long as it takes attention away from the person who’s harassing them.
- Get in the way. Continue what you were doing but get in between the person harassing and the person being harassed.
- “Accidentally” spill or drop something or cause a commotion to shift the attention away from the harassment–you could drop your coffee or water, the change in your wallet, your phone.
Delegate: When you don’t feel comfortable intervening directly in a situation of harassment or hate, delegating someone else to help can be an effective approach. This person can be anyone nearby who is in a position to assist, such as an authority figure or another bystander.
Keys to delegating include:
- Look for someone who is ready and willing to help; often, this can be someone right next to you.
- Clearly explain to your delegate what you’re witnessing and how you’d like them to assist.
Examples
Here are some examples you can try:
- Say to your delegate: “I think the person with the red hat is making the one in the blue jacket uncomfortable. Can you help me get them out of the situation? Can you distract by standing in between the two while I go ask if ‘Blue Jacket’ is okay?”
- In public places, your delegate could be someone who has authority in the space: a store supervisor, bus driver, or a transit employee. Near a school campus, it may be a teacher or administrator.
- Speak to someone near you who also notices what’s happening and might be in a better position to intervene. Work together to come up with a plan to intervene.
Document: If safe to do so, record or take notes of the incident, especially if no one else is intervening. Key tips for documenting include:
- Assess the situation. Is anyone helping the person being harassed? If not, use another of the 5Ds. Recording someone’s experience of harm without ensuring they’re already receiving help can just create further trauma for them. If someone else is already helping out, assess your own safety, and if you are safe, begin documenting.
- Always ask the person who was harassed what they want to do with your recording and/or notes. Never post it online or use it without their permission.
Examples
Here are some examples you can try:
- Take notes discreetly. Use your phone or a notebook to jot down details about the incident, including the date, time, location, and what was said or done. You might say to yourself, “I’ll write this down to remember it in case they need to report it later.”
- Record audio (if safe). If you’re in a situation where recording is safe and appropriate, use your phone’s voice memo app to capture what’s happening. Afterward, approach the person who was harassed and say, “I recorded the conversation to help document what happened. Would you like to keep it for your records?”
- Take video footage (if appropriate). If the situation is escalating but you can do so safely, consider recording a short video of the incident. Later, check in with the person targeted and ask, “I have video of what occurred if you’d like to see it or if you think it could help in any way. Let me know how you want to handle it.”
- Document details post-incident. After the situation has been resolved, take a moment to write a detailed account of what happened while it’s still fresh in your mind. Later, say to the person being targeted, “I documented everything that happened today. If you want, I can share it with you to support your next steps.”
Delay: If you can’t intervene in the moment, it’s important to check in with the person being targeted after the incident. Harassment can occur quickly, and it might not be possible to address it in real-time. By reaching out afterward, you can help lessen their trauma, show that you care, and let them know you witnessed what happened.
Examples
Here are some examples you can try:
- Approach the person and say, “Hey, I just wanted to check in. I saw what happened earlier, and I want you to know it wasn’t okay. Are you alright?”
- Sit down with them and say, “If you want to talk about what happened, I’m here to listen. Sometimes sharing can help.”
- Reach out and say, “Is there anything I can do to support you right now? I’m here for you, whatever you need.”
- Offer to walk with them to their next location, saying, “Would you like me to walk you to your car or wherever you’re headed? I want to make sure you feel safe.”
- If you’ve documented the incident, approach them and say, “I took some notes about what happened earlier. If you’d like, I can share them with you for your records or if you decide to make a report.”
Direct: Direct intervention means addressing the behaviour head-on. You might say something like, "That’s not okay," or "Please stop." This approach works best when you feel safe and confident that it won’t escalate the situation.
Direct intervention can be risky; the person harassing may redirect their aggression toward you or escalate the situation further. Before responding, carefully assess the situation by considering the following questions:
- Am I physically safe?
- Is the person being harassed physically safe?
- Is it unlikely that the situation will escalate?
- Can I tell if the person being harassed wants someone to speak up?
If you can answer "yes" to all of these questions, you may choose to proceed with direct intervention.
When you do intervene, keep your response short and to the point. While it may be tempting to engage in dialogue, debate, or argument, avoid doing so, as this can lead to further escalation. If the person harassing responds, redirect your focus to supporting the individual who was harmed rather than engaging with the aggressor.
Examples
Here are some examples you can try:
- “That’s inappropriate,” “That’s homophobic,” “That’s disrespectful,” “That’s racist,” “That’s not okay,” “That’s harassment,” etc.
- “Leave them alone.”
- “Please stop right now.”
- “They’ve asked you to leave them alone and I’m here to support them.”
Responding to hate in different situations
Hate and harassment can happen anywhere—whether in social situations, at work, or online. Knowing how to respond in various environments helps ensure you can adapt your intervention to the specific circumstances.
Online hate
Hate often occurs online, particularly on social media. Perpetrators sometimes feel more emboldened than they would in real-world settings, but the impacts of online hate can be just as real. Bystanders can help reduce the impact of online hate by:
- Reporting the abusive content to the platform.
- Offering public support to the person being targeted.
- Calling out harmful behaviour, if safe, to show that it’s not acceptable.
Hate in social situations
Hearing hateful comments in social situations can be awkward – especially if they come from family or friends. When hate or harassment occurs in public places, such as on the street, in a park, or at a party, you can:
- Use the distraction method to break the tension.
- Stand near the person being targeted to offer them visible support.
- Call for help from others if the situation escalates.
Hate at school or university
Educational institutions should be safe spaces but hate speech and harassment can still occur. If you witness hate at school, university, or college:
- Inform a teacher, counselor, or campus authority.
- Offer support to the person being targeted, either during or after the incident.
- If you feel confident, use direct intervention to challenge the behaviour.
Hate in the workplace
Workplace harassment or discrimination is unacceptable. As a bystander in a professional environment, you can:
- Report the incident to human resources or a manager.
- Offer to be a witness if the person targeted wants to file a complaint.
- Address the situation privately with the harasser if you feel safe and capable.
Why bystander action matters
By taking action, you can help create environments where harassment and hate are not tolerated. Bystanders can break the silence around harmful behaviour, showing support to those who are targeted and sending a message that everyone deserves respect. Remember, no action is too small—your involvement could be a critical step toward changing attitudes and behaviours.
Together, we can stand up to hate and make our communities safer for everyone. Be an ally and take action when it counts.
Information on this webpage was compiled using information from the Right to Be website.