Hate Crimes

Hate Crimes

Every year, thousands of Americans come under attack because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, religion, or a disability.

These attacks can range from name-calling, offensive jokes, and social exclusion to life-threatening acts of violence. When these attacks cross the line into criminal activity, they are considered to be hate crimes.

Hate crimes can take many forms; A black teenager is beaten up by white teenagers while driving through a suburb. Swastikas are painted on a synagogue. A gay man is killed and another is injured when they are attacked by a group of 10 young men outside a gay bar. A bomb threat is called in to a local Islamic center, and racial epithets are shouted at children wearing traditional Arab clothing.

Hate crimes affect not only individual victims, but can also harm every other member of the group that individual represents, creating a sense of fear, vulnerability, insecurity, distrust, and outrage. They can also launch cycles of retaliation and counter-retaliation among groups.

Almost two-thirds of reported attacks are committed by individuals under the age of 24. Although people of all racial and ethnic groups commit hate crimes, young white males commit most of them.

Most victims of violent hate crimes are also young: more than half of the victims of reported hate violence are age 24 or under, and nearly a third are under 18. African Americans, Jews, Arab Americans and Muslims, new immigrants, lesbians, gay men, and women are some of the most frequently targeted groups.

Prejudice is at the heart of all hate crimes. Although most prejudiced individuals do not commit hate crimes, prejudice is a key motivation for those who do.

The majority of people who commit hate crimes are not members