In the wake of recent bias attacks against five Hispanic immigrants and a gay couple in Staten Island, the Department of Justice and the New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force held a community forum Thursday in Port Richmond.

Local leaders are offering a $5,000 reward for information regarding the six bias crimes, which took place since April.

The most recent incident to be deemed a hate crime involved a gay married couple who were assaulted outside a White Castle restaurant in Stapleton.

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating all the cases.

"People are being picked on here because of how they're being perceived. We want everyone to understand that everyone is a human being worthy of the dignity and respect that you would want for yourself," said Island activist Terry Troia.

"I'm never going to feel the same, like before. My life's changed and everything," said bias attack victim Rodolfo Olmedo.

The meeting was closed to cameras, but those inside complained the DOJ presentation was hard to understand and didn't really answer any concerns.

"I was expecting something other than a 'Law and Order' approach to this problem because we're here, they're here and there doesn't seem to be any type of communication to bring all of us together," said Staten Island resident Earlene Bethel-Sperling.

Port Richmond first caught the attention of the Department of Justice in 2008, when a teenaged West African immigrant African-American boy was beat up by four white teenagers who were upset by President Barack Obama's electoral victory.

Authorities said that community education and awareness can help stop the string of local attacks. They also urge anyone who is the victim of a hate crime to report the incident to law enforcement agencies immediately.

Anyone with information on the cases should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.