At least 11,634 incidents of hate crimes were reported last year, the highest number in history, according to the most recent report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The real figure, which includes those acts not reported due to fear or mistrust, is surely much higher.
During a recent appearance before Congress, FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed particular concern about the wave of anti-Semitism that has intensified in the United States – and around the world – in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. “It is a threat that is reaching, in many ways, historic levels,” he warned.
To put it into alarming numbers: the Jewish community represents 2.4% of the United States population. But it accounts for 60% of all hate crimes for religious reasons. Simply unacceptable.
This is a double victimization. Not only has the Jewish community been historically discriminated against, but these crimes increased after the abominable act of terrorism committed by Hamas that left more than 1,200 dead, many of them minors, elderly people, women, that is, innocent civilians. It’s as tragic as the reported 14,500 deaths of Palestinians in Gaza.
Certainly hate crimes aren’t exclusive to one community. In the United States, the execrable attack against three unarmed young Palestinians in the state of Vermont, where they were shot when they were on their way to an 8-year-old boy’s birthday party, is outrageous and execrable.
The crime: walking down the street wearing a “keffiyeh,” a traditional headdress worn by Palestinian men. As Senator Bernie Sanders rightly put it: “It is deeply disturbing that three young Palestinians have been shot here in Burlington. “Hate has no place here or anywhere else.” A 48-year-old white suspect was arrested.
Anti-Semitism is as reprehensible as Islamophobia
We Latinos know firsthand the reality of hate crimes, as do other minorities of color such as African Americans. In 1966 Martin Luther King sent a telegram to our César Chávez. The reverend’s words were resounding, clear and unobjectionable: “Our separate struggles are actually one: a fight for freedom, dignity and humanity.”
The reverend’s words should be a global anthem against hate. Sadly, a vast majority of irresponsible politicians not only ignore it, but encourage hatred with xenophobic and racist discourse. In the United States we have one of its politicians: Donald Trump, but he is not the only one.
It was no coincidence that during his presidency hate groups flourished by 55%, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
We cannot stop all hate crimes. But, with our rejection of all acts of hate and our vote, we can help prevent xenophobes and racists from coming to power.
We are all victims of racism, discrimination and prejudice and doing nothing about it makes us complicit.
