Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on October 25, 2020

The OC Human Relations Commission released its 2019 Orange County Hate Crime Report on October 20. For the fifth consecutive year, the numbers of crimes increased. Hate crime was up 24% in 2019 over the previous year.

We know that hate crime is grossly underreported and that we likely do not hear from the majority of people who are targeted each year, Allison Edwards, CEO of OC Human Relations, wrote in a statement. We are a diverse county, but we can do better. We can be an inclusive county where the people who live here feel safe and good about staying here.

Heres a summary with excerpts from the report:

What is a Hate Crime?

In California, the legal definition of a hate crime (under California Penal Code 422.6) is defined as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of anothers disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group of persons with one or more of the preceding actual or perceived characteristics.

Hate Crimes in Orange County

The Orange County Human Relations Commission received reports from 19 law enforcement agencies, 24 education institutions, and 5 community-based organizations.

In Orange County, 83 hate crimes were reported in 2019, a 24% increase from 2018. This is the largest jump in hate crime activity in the last 5 years.

The most frequently reported hate crime was motivated by the targets of race, ethnicity and/or national origin (47%) followed by religion (28%), sexual orientation (18%), gender identity (5%), and disability (1%).

Of the 47% of cases motivated by race, ethnicity, and/or national origin, 53% were driven by anti-Black sentiment, followed by anti-Hispanic (30%) and anti-Asian (17%).

Of the 28% of hate crimes motivated by religion, the Jewish community was the primary target at 52% followed by Catholics, Christians, and Muslims (14% combined).

Of the hate crime cases reported motivated by sexual orientation (18%) and gender identity (5%), 78% of the cases were anti-gay followed by anti-female(11%) and anti-transgender (11%).

The most reported hate-based criminal offense was vandalism (44%) followed by aggravated assaults (22%), simple assault (13%), criminal threats (9%), harassment (5%), theft (4%), assault and battery (3%), and arson (1%).

What is a Hate Incident?

A hate incident differs from a hate crime in that it is the behavior that is motivated by hate or bias towards a persons actual or perceived disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation but is not criminal in nature. Typically, these behaviors are protected by the First Amendments right to freedom of expression. If this type of behavior escalates to threats or carried out against a person or property, or becomes an incitement to commit violence, it would be classified as a hate crime.

Hate Incidents in Orange County

In Orange County, a total of 156 hate incidents were reported in 2019, a 6% decrease from last year. Hate incidents are notoriously underreported for a variety of reasons. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are up to 260,000 hate events that go unreported annually nation-wide.

Main Motivators for Hate Incidents

The main motivation for hate incidents was religion (44%) followed by race/ethnicity/National origin (39%), and sexual orientation/gender identity (15%). Two percent were targeted for more than one motive.

Similar to the hate crime data, of the 44% of hate incidents due to religion, the Jewish community was the primary target at 65%, followed by 31% of the incidents targeting the Muslim community (31%).

Of the 39% of hate incidents motivated due to race/ethnicity/National origin, 51% were anti-Black followed by anti-Hispanic (13%) and anti-multiple races (13%).

Of the hate incident cases reported that were motivated by sexual orientation/gender identity, 68% of the cases were anti-gay followed by anti-female (14%), anti-lesbian (9%), and anti-LGBT in general (9%).

In 2019, the highest hate incidents reported were harassment and hate speech (74%), followed by Vandalism (21%), simple assault (3%), and aggravated assault (2%).

In 2019, the top location for hate incidents was at school campuses (44%), followed by work/business (23%), public area (15%), private property (7%), phone/online (7%), and place of worship (3%).

Forty-one percent were reported in high schools, 25% in middle schools, 19% in colleges/university, and 15% in elementary schools.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), students who experience hate crimes or hate incidents are at increased risk for lower academic achievement as they tend to skip school and are more likely to drop out. Studies show there is a link between school safety and students academic performance.

Orange County is Diverse

Orange County is one of Americas most diverse counties. Of the roughly 3.2 million people who live here, about 30% of our population is foreign-born, over 40% of residents speak a language other than English at home, including roughly 25% who speak Spanish, and there are over 80 faiths practiced here.

In publishing this annual Hate Crime Report, we are confronted by the fact that hate crimes continue to rise, wrote Michael Reynolds, Chair of the Orange County Human Relations Commission. We can, and we must, do better. It is our hope that this report will inform ongoing conversations in different spaces about the need to support hate victims and, as a community, to commit to treat one another as we individually would want to be treated.

What should I do if Im victimized?

Contact law enforcement immediately to file a report.

Obtain medical attention, if needed. Be sure to keep all medical documentation.

Leave all evidence in place. Do not touch, remove and/or clean up anything.

Document what happened by taking photographs of the evidence, writing down exactly what was said, particularly any words that indicate bias, motivation, and other information that may be valuable.

Get the name(s), address(es), and phone number(s) of other victim(s) and witness(es).

If possible, write down a description of the perpetrator and the perpetrators vehicle.

Find support from friends, family, and from seek professional help if needed.

Report the occurrence to OC Human Relations Commission

To report a hate crime, call 714-480-6580. You can also report online at http://www.ochumanrelations.org/hatecrime.

Need Support?

The OC Human Relations Commission provides individuals who have been targeted by hate crimes and/or hate incidents with support and appropriate resources. All information, support, and services provided are confidential. Throughout the year, the Commission provides presentations and releases the annual Hate Crimes Report informing Orange County community about hate crimes and hate incidents because of the impact that it has on the victims and society.

Victim Witness Assistance

Help is available in the form of:

Support in communicating with the law enforcement, the court and other authorities

Translation services for non-English speakers

Information resources and referrals

Crisis intervention and counseling

Orientation to the criminal justice system

Emergency financial application assistance

Support with property return, restitution assistance, filing compensation claims, temporary restraining orders, emergency transportation, and case status/disposition information

Other organizations that support and defend victims of hate crimes:

ACLU of Southern California, Orange County Branch: (714) 450-3962

Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Orange County/Long Beach Region: (949) 679-3737

California Department of Fair Employment & Housing (DFEH): (800) 884-1684 or (800) 700-2320

California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board: (800) 777-9229

Council on American-Islamic Relations, Southern California (CAIR): (714) 776-1847

Dayle McIntosh Center: (714) 621-3300

Fair Housing Council of Orange County: (714) 569-0823

Federal Bureau of Investigation Victim Assistance Program: (714) 542-8825

Japanese American Citizens League (Pacific Southwest Chapter): (213) 626-4471

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) of Orange County:(714) 543-3637

OC Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA): (714) 636-9095

Office of the Orange County District Attorney: (714) 834-3600

Office of Victim Services, California Attorney General: (877) 433-9069

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG): (714) 997-8047

Sikh Council California: 1-877-CALSIKH

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC): (334) 956-8200

LGBTQ Center OC: (714) 953-5428

U.S. Department of Justice OfficeHate Crime Suppression Unit: (213) 580-3358

U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime: (800) 851-3420

Waymakers: (949) 975-0488

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Hate Crimes on the Rise in Orange County - Fullerton Observer

Category: Anti-Defamation League
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