LA Times: ‘An epidemic of hate’ in California and throughout United States, 洛杉磯時報：加利福尼亞和整個美國的“仇恨流行”, July 1 2021
Anti-Asian hate crimes more than doubled in California in 2020, according to a report from the state attorney general, underscoring fears among Asian Americans about being targeted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, hate crimes reported to law enforcement rose 31% in the state last year, with attacks against Asians up by 107%, according to the report released Wednesday. Hate crimes against Black people, which constituted a majority of racially motivated attacks last year, increased by 88%. Anti-Latino crimes rose 38%.
“For too many, 2020 wasn’t just about a deadly virus. It was about an epidemic of hate,” state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said.
The report backs up other studies that found hate crimes rising in California and across the country in recent years amid growing political polarization, emboldened hate groups and the stresses of a global health crisis. The rhetoric of then-President Trump and others, blaming China for the pandemic because it originated there, has intensified anti-Asian sentiment in some quarters.
The state Department of Justice’s report tracked hate crimes — criminal acts motivated at least in part by characteristics such as race, gender or religion — reported to law enforcement agencies in California. It did not monitor racist attacks that were purely verbal. Hate speech is largely protected by the 1st Amendment, becoming a hate crime only if there is a threat to a person or property.
Despite the huge increases last year, state Justice Department officials say that hate crimes are still probably underreported.
Johnson Choi Biz 