Hate Speech and Hate Crime Resources
Following the 2016 presidential election and Donald Trump’s win, Advancement Project California has determined four priorities as a way to frame our response and our work moving forward, the first of which is to “protect our people.” The need for such protection has been increasing over the course of the campaign and has ramped up even more since Nov. 8. Hate speech and hate crime are on the rise. As a multiracial civil rights organization and alongside our partners, one of our first duties must be to protect all marginalized people from this rising tide of hate.
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Hate Speech and Hate Crime Statistics**
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has been tracking hate groups, hate speech, and accompanying acts nationwide since 1971. California alone has 68 hate groups, mapped on SPLC’s Hate Map.
As of November 29, they reported 892 incidents of harassment against minorities since Mr. Trump’s election, with most occurring in the first three days following the results. Of those, 206 incidents were anti-immigrant and 51 were anti-Muslim.
The FBI also tracks such incidents of violence, and the bias breakdown from 2014 shows those most at risk include people of color, religious minorities, and the LGBTIQ.
[Source: https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/latest-hate-crime-statistics-available]
In California, the State Department of Justice releases figures on hate crimes. The 2015 report shows a 10.4% increase in hate crimes (from 758 in 2014 to 837 in 2015). Incidents based on religion jumped nearly 50%; those based on Hispanic ethnicity increased 35%; and over the past decade incidents with an anti-Black bias have been the most common, making up 32% of all hate offenses.
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What is Hate Speech or Constitutes a Hate Crime?**
“Hate speech” is covered by the First Amendment but may be punishable if it incites attacks or is otherwise threatening beyond insulting a person or group on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
CA PENAL CODE RELATED TO HATE CRIMES, CODE SECTION 422.55-422.57
“Hate crime” means a criminal act was committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim:
(1) Disability.
(2) Gender.
(3) Nationality.
(4) Race or ethnicity.
(5) Religion.
(6) Sexual orientation.
(7) Association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
How to Report and Protect Yourself
These incidents of hate speech and crimes are frightening and can leave us feeling powerless. But in this country, we have legal remedies and many valiant institutions that are helping to fight against this tide of intolerance towards marginalized groups. Below is an evolving list of informational and organizational resources that can help you, a loved one, and your community. We will be growing this list over time so please feel free to suggest others.
To Report Hate Speech and Hate Crime
For more information or if you have recommendations of additional resources please contact, Director of Communications Katie Smith at (213) 989-1300 or ksmith@advanceproj.org.