Hate Crimes in State Decline

A new state study found that the overall number of hate crimes in California dropped 5.5% last year to the lowest number in a decade, but crimes against blacks, Latinos and Asians increased.

Hate crimes fell from 1,491 in 2003 to 1,409 in 2004, the third consecutive year the numbers have dropped, according to a report released Friday by Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer.

“The numbers are coming down from the peak in 2001 after the terrorist attacks,” said Robin Schwanke of the Department of Justice, adding that the numbers mirror the general decline in violent crime. “I don’t know exactly why, but it’s good they’re decreasing.”

The study found that anti-white hate crimes decreased 28% from 85 to 61; anti-gay crimes fell 22% from 337 to 263; and religion-motivated hate crimes dropped 7% from 220 to 205.

Crimes against people of Middle Eastern descent showed the greatest decline, dropping 35% from 161 to 105, according to the report. That number had risen dramatically after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The study reported 500 anti-black hate crimes, up 8% from 2003. Crimes against Asian/Pacific Islanders rose 4.6% to 69. Anti-Latino crimes jumped 34% to 138.

Anti-black hate crimes make up 35% of the total.

“Because of 9/11, there was such a degree of hate crimes against Muslims that African Americans were knocked off the pedestal,” said Rick Callender, president of the San Jose/Silicon Valley branch of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People.

“It is unfortunate to see that we have once again regained that post,” he said.

The study, called “Hate Crime in California 2004,” includes reported crimes based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or physical or mental disability. The study provides statistics on reported incidents, victims, prosecutions and convictions.

At least 60% of the incidents are crimes based on race, ethnicity and national origin.

Los Angeles County reported the highest number of hate crimes with 501, followed by San Francisco with 144.

State prosecutors filed 277 hate crime cases last year. Of those, 139 resulted in a hate crime conviction and 103 resulted in other convictions.