Hate Crimes

Be informed, not a victim

by RACHEL THOMASON

Hate crimes are crimes against persons or property motivated by racial, ethnic, religious, gender, disability, sexual orientation or other prejudices. Examples of hate crimes include assault and battery, threats, vandalism, or other forms of abuse. The offenders generally do not know their victims personally, but target them due to their affiliation with an above mentioned group. Many activist groups have taken measures to discourage the occurrence of hate crimes and provide the public with information. In turn however, many racist and hateful organizations have made their presence well known by using devices such as the Internet to spread their negative beliefs.

The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, (18 U.S.C. 245), allows judges to impose harsher penalties and sentences to those found guilty of a hate crime. It expands federal jurisdiction for serious or violent crimes. Crimes that cause death or bodily injury can now be investigated federally. This bill protects everyone and is necessary in order to protect entire communities as well as individuals. In addition, 40 states have some form of Hate Crimes legislation.

Here are some examples of hate crimes that have brought this bill into action:

• A group of white men burned a cross on the lawn of an African-American family that had just moved into an all-white neighborhood (Bucktown, 12/94).
  
  
• Two straight men who were attacked by a group of knife-wielding thugs; the two were called anti-gay names and killed because of the perception that they were gay (New Orleans, 11/93).
  
  
• A gay man was beaten to death outside of a gay bar as he waited for a cab (Shreveport, 4/93).
  
  
• A white man allegedly threw two glass bottles of gasoline through the window of a black family's home (Raceland, 2/93).
  
  
• A cross was burned at a church (Morganza, 10/93).
  
  
• Swastikas were painted on a Jewish business and on a synagogue (Shreveport, 8/92).

The FBI has documented a total of 25,439 hate motivated crimes since this bill was passed. Many incidents go un-reported, however. The following chart depicts crimes reported to the FBI in 1995. As you will see, hate effects many people.

"WARNING: Please read before going any further on this site.
To continue at this page you must be pure Aryan. The following people may be offended by the truthful eye-opening statements made on this page: Fags, Niggers, Gooks, Spics, Jews, Commies, ZOG stoogies, Whiggers, and all forms of Left-Wing scum. If you are one of the above please leave this site now and commit suicide for the benefit of all society. The Aryan race is the master race and if you don't like it, that's tough shit."

This outrageous statement is just one example of the racist views exhibited by ignorant people who are itching for web space. I for one am all for free speech...but that is ridiculous!

"Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings." - Helen Keller

Radford University has addressed the issue of hate crimes in written policies, and in programs that are offered on campus during the year. Section 17.5 of the Student Handbook states "sanctions imposed on a student many be enhanced" if a student has "intentionally selected the person or persons against whom the underlying violation was committed or selected the property which was damaged or otherwise affected, because of the race, religion, gender, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or national origin..."

On Tuesday March 30th, the staff of Jefferson Hall presented a program on "Hate." Resident Director, CJ Kostenblatt, and hall staff covered issues ranging from "What is hate?" to the murder of Matthew Shepherd.

The level of hate crimes committed rises every year. As more ignorant people are brought into this world, the rate of violence continues. What can you do? Know the facts, educate yourself, and pass your knowledge onto others. Stop the circle of hate and prejudice that have consumed the internet. After all, I am not perfect and neither are you. "No matter what, we are all humans and we need to remember that" said Kostenblatt.

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Comments:
Daniel check out the segregation article in vent. It made me feel different about this campus.

Name: Daniel Johnson
Comments:
I did not say that ALL students who are gay or whatever should be put on the same floor. It just makes them have more of a sense of community if they have that option. I don't think it would alienate anyone. In fact, it would make a large majority of the students feel more safe. And if the haters think that a group of people living together would make a good target I suggest they think again. If Res. Life was better prepared to deal with homophobia, and if the campus had a better awareness program set up, there would not be a problem with hatred like there is with some people on this campus.

Name: Brian :)
Major: Advertising
Comments:
Don't you think, Daniel, that segregating students into "sexual orientation safety zones" is a little obsessive? Sure, we need to genually have concern for our students, but won't this alienate those who just want to "fit in" to society with their own beliefs? I think if anything is accomplished by moving students of similar interests together, it'll be that everyone on campus wanting to express their hatred will know that their "enemy" is all located in one building together. More of a target scenario, it sounds to me.

Name: Daniel Johnson
Major: Psychology
Comments:
Radford University is not with out hate crimes itself. Recently, two gay students who live in one of the dorms on campus recieved threatening phone calls, obscene pictures, and written threats pushed under their doors. For Radford to be more informed, there should be a Gay-Straight Alliance, such as there is on other college campuses around the country, and the Residential Life staff needs to start listening to the complaints and act accordingly, perhaps even designating some residence hall floors as sexual orientation safety zones.

Comments:
Have examples of those statistics next time you address this subject.

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To truly not be blind about the subject, you must see ALL the hate crimes.