Hate crimes spike again in California; African Americans, Latinos targeted
The Sacramento Bee reports on what may be a troubling sign of the (Trump) times.
California law enforcement agencies report an 11.2 percent spike in total hate crimes across the state – the second year in a row the state saw double-digit increases. There were more hate crimes committed last year against people based on their race or ethnicity than any other group, according the annual report on hate crimes released by the California Department of Justice.
Race-related hate crimes shot up 21.3 percent last year, with anti-African American crimes accounting for the largest portion of the increase. There were 251 hate-related “events” and 333 “offenses” against African Americans. Anti-Latino crimes were second, with 83 events reported and 114 separate offenses. Crimes against whites came in third, with 56 events reported and 75 offenses.
The report summarizes the data as follows:
The total number of hate crime events1, offenses2, victims, and suspects all increased in 2016. . . .
Hate crime events increased 11.2 percent from 837 in 2015 to 931 in 2016. (Table 11)
Hate crime events involving a racial bias increased 21.3 percent from 428 in 2015 to 519 in 2016. (Table 11)
Anti-white bias events went from 34 in 2015 to 56 in 2016.
Anti-black or African American bias events went from 231 in 2015 to 251 in 2016, an increase of 8.7 percent.
Anti-multiple races bias events went from 17 in 2015 to 34 in 2016
Hate crime events involving a sexual orientation bias increased 10.1 percent from 188 in 2015 to 207 in 2016. (Table 11)
Anti-gay (male) bias events increased from 108 in 2015 to 152 in 2016, an increase of 40.7 percent.
Hate crime offenses increased 12.6 percent from 1,057 in 2015 to 1,190 in 2016. (Table 12)
Violent crime offenses increased 5.5 percent from 727 in 2015 to 767 in 2016. (Table 13)
Property crime offenses increased 26.4 percent from 330 in 2015 to 417 in 2016. (Table 13)
The number of victims of reported hate crimes increased 9.4 percent from 1,041 in 2015 to 1,139 in 2016. (Table 15)
The number of suspects of reported hate crimes increased 16.8 percent from 838 in 2015 to 979 in 2016. (Table 15)
KJ