The worst moments of the 50s and 60s may be passed, but the hostility that has brewed in the melting pot of the USA throughout the centuries continues to linger. A study has found that there have been 259,700 hate crimes against people aged over 12 in the years between 2007-2011. There have been small rises in violent crime victimization against whites, blacks in hispanics in the period but a near doubling of attacks motivated by religious belief from the 2003-2006 period has been particularly concerning.
Written By William Barns-Graham
The biggest worry is that nearly two thirds of these hate crimes are not reported to police. From 2003-2006, 46% of hate crimes were reported but this is down to 35% for the time between 2007-2011. This is because victims doubt that the police can or will help. The proportion of victims fearing the police would not help with their crimes rose to 24% from 14%, the Bureau of Justice Statistics said.
The findings were made from data collected by the National Crime Victimization Survey which has been collecting data since 2003. It uses Census Bereau interviews with a large representative number of people who share their experiences with crime. Many experts have been shocked by the findings, especially in relation to the police. Jim Bueermann, president of the Police Foundation, said victims feared reprisal for reporting attacks while Jason Marsden, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, told the AP that people have a “feeling of futility”.
“It’s shocking to see that much of an increase in the feeling of futility that hate crime victims are apparently experiencing,” the latter said.
Congress defines hate crimes as offences motivated by or against race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. With religion particularly prominent among the rises in hate crimes, one cannot help but feel at a loss as fundamentalists and racists continue to cause so much strife.
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