Althea Bernstein needed to lift her spirit after experiencing a hate crime which left her physically and emotionally scarred. The 18-year-old found that source of healing when she answered a call from Meghan Markle on Saturday, according to People.

During the 40-minute phone call, the two women talked about their experiences with being biracial, according to People. The former Duchess of Sussex also tried to protect Bernstein from any further harm, advising the Wisconsin woman to stay away from social media to avoid hateful comments. Prince Harry also joined the call briefly, giving additional encouragement to the young woman. 

Michael Johnson, the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County who has been acting as Bernstein's spokesman, was able to make the phone call possible.

"Her and Meghan talked about the importance of self-care and allowing herself to heal," Johnson told Channel 3000. "And she applauded her for the way that she responded and pretty much said, 'Hey Michael, give me her cell phone number. I want to stay in touch. And let me know when you want me to come back and talk to people in Wisconsin.'"

Markle is expected to have a conference with girls in Wisconsin in the near future, Johnson said. 

The attack took place last week when Bernstein stopped at a red light in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, as Blavity previously reported. Bernstein told police that four white men came to her car at the intersection and said "n****r." One of the men then allegedly threw lighter fluid and a lighter through the open window. After driving away and putting out the flames, Bernstein went to the hospital and received treatment for her burns. 

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway released a statement the following day, calling the incident a hate crime.

"The City received a report of a violent racially-motivated hate crime that occurred downtown around 1:00 am on June 24, where a group of pedestrians used a racial slur and then lit a woman on fire through her car window as she stopped at an intersection. This is a horrifying and absolutely unacceptable crime that I will not tolerate in Madison," Rhodes-Conway said.

The mayor also said the attack "may have been a premeditated crime targeted toward people of color." 

Johnson said Bernstein was moved to tears after the call with Markle.

“She’s struggling. It’s a challenge for her, it’s very, very emotional. I talked to her three or four times today, and I’ll tell you Meghan lifted her spirits,” Johnson told Channel 3000.

Markle recently spoke at the virtual graduation ceremony of her alma mater in Los Angeles, telling students “the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing.” 

"I wanted to say the right thing, and I was really nervous that I wouldn’t, or that it would get picked apart, and I realized the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing," Markle said. "Because George Floyd's life mattered and Breonna Taylor's life mattered and Philando Castile's life mattered and Tamir Rice's life mattered. And so did so many other people whose names we know and whose names we do not know. Stephon Clark, his life mattered."

Markle and Prince Harry have been distributing meals in Los Angeles and working with social justice advocates to help formerly incarcerated people. The couple is also in the midst of launching their nonprofit Archewell, which aims to provide various types of charitable services, The Telegraph reports.  

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