In recent years, hate crime has become a thorny issue in the United States. Statistics indicate that these crimes and their toxic ideologies trading in sexual, religious or racial prejudice are on an exponential rise in America. In the wake of 2015’s deadly attack on a church in Charlestown, South Carolina, hate crimes have become apparent as America’s shameful intolerance (Dedman, Brunker & Alba, 2017). As per the legislation of Hate Crime Statistics, an Act of 1990, these crimes represent a manifestation of predisposition based primarily on religion, race, gender identity or gender in general, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity. Under this act, statistical compilations show that as of 2013, 5,928 incidents took place resulting in 7,242 victims. This data indicates the propensity of hate crimes and their frequent occurrence on American soil. On an average, the number of incidents per year usually reaches 7,573 resulting in 9,455 victims as per the Federal Bureau of Investigation data.
Among the various types of hate crimes, those to do with race are the most pertinent, forming close to 50% of all incidents. Sexual orientation comes in second while ethnicity, disability, and other multiple biases follow with lower percentages. When it comes to race, hate crimes directed toward the African-American communities are far more numerous compared to other races, even the larger white populations. According to an FBI statistic in 2013, 66.4 percent of all reported single-bias hate crimes specifically targeted the black community. When it comes to religion, Jews remain as the frequent target of most hate crimes compared to other faiths. However, the present trend indicates a marked increase in crimes against Muslim communities such as the 2015 killing of Suzanne Barakat’s brother, his wife and the wife’s sister (Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED), 2015). The Southern Poverty Law Center, (SPLC) indicates that as of 2014, the state with the largest number of active hate groups in California with 57 hate groups. Of all hate groups in America, the Neo-Nazi National Socialist Freedom Movement attracts the most significant number of followers.
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References
Dedman, B., Brunker, M., & Alba, M. (2017). Hate Crime in America, by the Numbers . NBC News . Retrieved 27 July 2017, from http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/charleston-church-shooting/hate-crime-america-numbers-n81521
Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED). (2015). Islamophobia killed my brother. Let's end the hate . Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_barakat_islamophobia_killed_my_brother_let_s_end_the_hate/up-next
