“I looked at the 1997 “Hate Crime In Los Angeles County” report of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, and it was scary to see what adults are doing to each other. Here are just a few examples of the 820 hate crimes reported in 1997:
• In January of 1997, Middle Eastern managers of a Glendora liquor store received threatening phone calls from three men. They were called “sand niggers.” One caller said “I’m going to get you,” and “Why don’t you go back to where you came from and learn English?”
• In November of 1997 in Hawaiian Gardens, the home of an African-American family was firebombed. Assailants discharged gunfire before fleeing. Three Latino suspects were arrested.
• In April of 1997, a black male attempted to stab a white male “for messing with black women.”
Here’s the legal definition of what a hate crime is: “A hate crime is any crime committed against a person (or his property) because of his race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, ancestry, origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation,” according to “Kids and the Law,” a report by the State Bar of California. I know that sounds kind of boring, but when you think about it, there’s so much more to it than just words. This legal definition is trying to state that if you do something like this, you can’t get away with it.
One tricky thing about hate crimes is that it doesn’t always include your “speech”—opinions or things you say—unless you specifically threaten violence against people. For example, it’s legal for the KKK to have a website announcing their hatred for blacks. But it’s a hate crime for them to threaten to burn down a building or hurt someone because of their hatred.
Graffiti can be a hate crime “when it is racial, ethnic, religious, homophobic or sexist in nature… To be a hate crime, graffiti must be directed at a specific target. Racial graffiti on a freeway overpass that does not address itself to a particular person is not a hate crime,” the Commission report said.
Lots of local agencies, including the police, probation department and sheriff’s, have formed hate crime task forces so they can come down hard on the people responsible for hate crimes.
There are more severe penalties if you commit such a crime, according to the State Bar Association. California students between the fourth and twelfth grades may be suspended or recommended for expulsion if they cause, attempt to cause or participate in an act of hate violence. A hate crime conviction can increase a jail sentence by one to three years, depending on the circumstances.
In addition, you can be sued by the victim. You may be ordered to pay for the victim’s medical bills and/or property repair bills; money to pay back the victim for pain and suffering; a $25,000 fine; and/or attorney’s fees.
What can we do about hate crimes? If you are the victim of hate crime, you should report it to your local police station as well as the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission at (213) 974-7630. You can start a group at your school to raise awareness of hate crimes. And you can spend time learning about racism and trying to fight it.”
