Closely related to prejudice, persecution involves an overt attempt to make someone suffer because of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, weight, looks, political affiliation, or any other arbitrary identifier. Persecution and prejudice are unfortunately real occurrences for many people; if the character has experienced prejudice in the past, witnessed others being persecuted, or has been taught that persecution is a foregone conclusion (and are therefore expecting it), it can develop into a fear with many debilitating results.

Hiding or downplaying certain aspects of who they are
The character changing their beliefs to align with what's popular
Avoiding situations where the character's personal beliefs might be questioned or highlighted
Expecting prejudicial treatment from others
Sticking with people who are like the character
Physically moving, fleeing an area, or quitting a group to avoid persecution
A hyper-sensitivity to criticism
Being anxious or a worrier
Empathizing with other people groups who are prone to persecution
The character being on high alert when they're away from home
Voting for candidates who share the character's ideals, race, gender, etc.
Becoming confrontational (to avoid being mistreated)
Joining an activist group of like-minded people to fight against persecution
Feeling watched, like the character is being surveilled or spied on

Becoming jaded or cynical about the future
The character second-guessing themselves and their suspicions about others
Internalizing other people's negative comments or ideas