🛑 Facing Discrimination? Here's How to File a Complaint in New York State

Discrimination—whether at work, in housing, at school, or in public spaces—is a violation of your civil rights. If you believe you’ve been discriminated against because of your race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, immigration status, or other protected characteristics, you don’t have to face it alone. There are official processes and agencies ready to help.

This guide will walk you through how to file a discrimination complaint in New York State, and where to turn for support.

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📝 Step 1: Understand What Counts as Discrimination

Discrimination can take many forms. Here are just a few examples:

• Being fired, not hired, or demoted due to race, gender, or age
  
  
• Being denied housing because of your background or family status
  
  
• Harassment at school based on your religion or disability
  
  
• Refusal of service in public spaces because of your appearance, language, or identity
  
  

If you’re unsure if your experience qualifies, speak with a representative from one of the agencies below.

⚖️ Step 2: Choose Where to File Your Complaint

You can file a complaint with state or federal agencies depending on the situation. Here are your main options:

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🏛 NYS Division of Human Rights (DHR)

Handles discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, credit, and volunteer firefighting services.

• Website: dhr.ny.gov
  
  
• File a Complaint Online: Submit Here
  
  
• By Phone: 1-888-392-3644
  
  
• Email: info@dhr.ny.gov
  
  

Regional Offices:

• Bronx: (718) 741-8400 | Bronx@dhr.ny.gov
  
  
• Brooklyn: (718) 722-2854 | Brooklyn@dhr.ny.gov
  
  
• Long Island: (516) 539-6848 | LongIsland@dhr.ny.gov
  
  
• Buffalo: (716) 847-7632 | Buffalo@dhr.ny.gov
  
  
• Albany: (518) 474-2705 | Albany@dhr.ny.gov
  
  

🏛 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Handles workplace discrimination at the federal level. You can dual-file with EEOC and NYS DHR in many cases.

• Website: www.eeoc.gov
  
  
• File a Complaint (Charge of Discrimination): Online Portal
  
  
• Phone: 1-800-669-4000 (TTY: 1-800-669-6820)
  
  

New York District Office:

• Address: 33 Whitehall Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
  
  
• Phone: (212) 336-3620
  
  
• Hours: M–F, 9:00am–5:00pm
  
  

🏛 NYS Office of the Attorney General – Civil Rights Bureau

Handles broader civil rights issues, including systemic discrimination and hate crimes.

• Website: ag.ny.gov/civil-rights
  
  
• Phone: (212) 416-8250
  
  
• Submit a Civil Rights Complaint: Online Form
  
  

📍 Step 3: Local Support & Legal Help

If you're looking for community-based support, here are additional resources:

🏘️ Local Legal Aid & Advocacy Groups

• Legal Aid Society (NYC): www.legalaidnyc.org | (212) 577-3300
  
  
• Empire Justice Center: www.empirejustice.org | Focuses on upstate NY
  
  
• Urban Justice Center: www.urbanjustice.org
  
  
• New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI): www.nylpi.org
  
  

🖥️ Find a Legal Resource Near You

Use the LawHelpNY directory to find local legal aid by zip code:
🔗 www.lawhelpny.org

💡 Tips Before You File

• Document everything. Save emails, text messages, photos, or written notes about the incident(s).
  
  
• Act promptly. Most agencies have deadlines to file—typically within 180 to 365 days of the incident.
  
  
• Ask for help. These agencies are here to guide you through the process and protect your rights.
  
  

🗣️ We’re With You

No one should face discrimination or injustice without support. The NAACP NYS stands with you—and we’re working every day to ensure our communities are protected, empowered, and informed.

Questions or need help navigating this? Contact your local NAACP branch or email us at [info@naacpnys.org].

Would you like a matching one-pager PDF version of this blog post for sharing with branches and community centers?

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