9781422284063

Three examples are the Romans persecuting Christians, the white settlers taking land fromNative Americans, and theNazis murdering some six million Jews during World War II.

The world is still saddened and changed by hate crimes, as Americans expe- rienced on September 11, 2001, one of the darkest days in our history. Those who commit hate crimes are often racists, or they might fear and hate such people as foreigners or homosexuals. Minorities can also commit crimes based on their own prejudices. Victims of hate crimes can be individuals, groups, companies, or other organizations. Various hate crime laws may be worded differently, but most are like the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which protects Americans from crimes committed because of “race, color, religion, or national origin.” The Hate Crimes Statistics Act, passed in 1990, defines hate crimes as “crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, gender or gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.” According to state laws, hate crimes can be done for other reasons, too, such as cultural or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, politics, social class, age, and physical or mental disability. How to Recognize a Hate Crime Many of these crimes involve harassment and intimidation , like calling people an abusive racial name or sending hate mail to them. Another form is property damage, from spraying graffiti on a house to burning down a church. The most extreme crime is personal assault, which may become murder. Hate crimes are particularly unpleasant because they terrorize an entire targeted community. Hate speech might also do this, but it is protected under the Constitution’s First Amendment. This has probably helped increase the many hate sites on the Internet. Hate crimes occur for a number of reasons. They are based on prejudice, racial stereotypes , and ignorance, and rumors can strengthen these wrong opinions. Hate crimes are more likely when the races live in segregated areas or attend segregated areas or attend segregated schools. Particular reasons for hate crimes might be the economic betterment of a minority group or competition for jobs, housing, or education. They often occur because the attackers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Zero tolerance is the best method of dealing with such attacks, handling even the smallest incidents as crimes. If they are not dealt with quickly, they can become more severe or increase in number.

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HATE CRIMES