ARTICLES:
Politics and Society
How
to Fight Hate Crimes
Experts
estimate that 32 people a day are victims of hate crimes in the
United States. Of course you hope it will never happen to you but
if it does, do you know what to do? How do you protect yourself,
your loved ones, and your community?
By
Sue Lyons-Joell
December
2003/January 2004
It
can start as something barely perceptible: a hostile look, laughter,
or a rude gesture. It can be an epithet shouted from a car window.
It takes the readily recognizable forms of vandalism, graffiti,
threats, and outright violence. It happens among total strangers,
or it can come from acquaintances you thought were safe.
In
2001, over 12,000 people in the United States were victims of a
hate crime, according to a November 2002 Department of Justice press
release. About 46% of these victims were targeted because of race
or perceived race, 22% due to ethnicity or national origin, 18%
because of religious differences, 14% due to sexual orientation,
and a fraction due to physical or mental disability.
The
bottom line is that about 32 people every day are the target of
a hate crime, and that’s only the reported incidents. The
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) estimates that a hate crime is
committed every hour. The SPLC also notes that more hate crimes
are targeting Asian Americans and gays and lesbians, and that more
hate crimes are committed in the Northern and Western parts of the
US, not the South. If it’s happened to you or someone you
know, you’re not alone. You may hope it never happens –-
but if it does, what should you do? How do you protect yourself,
your loved ones, and your community?
1)
Know thy enemy
2) Take action
3) Educate yourself
1)
Know Thy Enemy
Those who commit hate crimes fall under three general categories:
thrill-seekers, reactionists, and people on a mission.
Thrill-Seekers
Thrill-seekers tend to be groups of teenagers or young adults, with
no organization other than their friends; they tend to target people
outside of their own communities. Almost any member of a group perceived
as vulnerable could be targeted. Attacks are random, and generally
take the form of vandalism, although they can be violent in nature.
Reactionists
The second group, the reactionists, are also not usually part of
an organized group, but feel entitled to rights and privileges and
need to “protect” their way of life, community, or workplace
from the victim. These crimes often happen in the criminal’s
own community.
People
on a Mission
Those on a mission are the most publicized of hate criminals, but
are also the most rare. These individuals often belong or subscribe
to an organized group or belief system, and perceive victims as
less than human. They often believe that governments and law enforcement
officials conspire against them and feel the need to take action
before it is too late. Unsurprisingly, some of these offenders suffer
from mental illnesses, and withdrawal from society.
2)
Take Action
The following are common-sense methods and actions that can help
protect yourself and your community.
Be
aware of who may be a target, and who may be a threat. Educate yourself
on what groups are active in your area. Know what to look for (dress
codes, insignia, tattoo symbols, aggressive or ethnic slogans on
T-shirts).
Protect yourself first: Be careful with personal information such
as addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc.
If at home, work, or place of worship: Document everything, even
the “little stuff” – phone calls, minor vandalism,
flyers with hate messages/slogans found outside your home, or places
in your community.
Talk to your neighbors, see if anyone else is experiencing a problem.
There is strength in community! Let your neighbors show that they
don’t want this in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods.
Reach out to victims and let them know that they are not alone,
and that people around them support them and want to help.
Don’t hide it: publicize it! You have as much freedom of speech
as the hate groups. Talk to your local township or city councilperson,
your state representative, and any official who will listen. Report
incidents to your news media and let them spread the word for you.
3) Educate Yourself
Statistics:
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel02/2001hc.htm
Background:
http://www.rickross.com/groups/hategroups.html
http://www.tolerance.org/10_ways/speak/index.html
National
Map of Hate Organizations:
http://www.tolerance.org/maps/hate/index.html
National
Map of Human Rights Organizations:
http://www.tolerance.org/maps/human_rights/index.html
About
the Author
Sue Lyons-Joell grew up in and around Philadelphia, PA. She is a
field biologist in the private sector, specializing in wetlands.
She is biracial, of western European-American, African-American,
and African-Bermudan descent. She is a co-leader of SWIRLPhilly,
the local chapter of Swirl.
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