Hate Crimes at Pre-9/11 Levels in O.C.

The number of people in Orange County reporting hate crimes and incidents of bigotry seems to be driven by everything from violence in Iraq to “The Passion of the Christ,” human relations officials said Thursday.

Hate crimes and incidents aimed at those of Middle Eastern descent increased last year, and the number of reported incidents targeting Jews remained the highest of any group, according to an annual report compiled by the Orange County Human Relations Commission.

Still, the report showed, the number of incidents in which people have reported being victims of hate incidents to police or outreach groups has returned to levels seen before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

There were 128 alleged hate incidents and crimes reported last year in Orange County, compared with 124 in 2002, the report stated.

In 2001, the number of reported incidents was 181, propelled by a dramatic spike in reports filed by Middle Easterners.

The annual report, which dates back to 1991, is a compilation of reports made to police and groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Council of American Islamic Relations.

Though last year’s rise was small, officials said, some of the incidents were particularly incendiary: A cross was burned on the front lawn of a house belonging to an African American family; a Muslim was beaten by a group of youths chanting “white power”; a Latino father and his young son were confronted outside a hamburger stand by a man clutching a metal pipe and shouting racial slurs.

Rusty Kennedy, the committee’s executive director, said he was particularly alarmed by the uptick in attacks, slurs and other offensive incidents aimed at Middle Easterners.

He said world events, the economy and demographic change often contribute to increases in hate crimes. This past year, he said, the violence in the Middle East probably drove up numbers. The debate over the portrayal of Jews in the movie “The Passion of the Christ” and the recent release of the videotaped beheading of an American captive by militants appear to have contributed to incidents this year, contributors to the report said.

“These things tend to precipitate hate crimes against people who are perceived to be like our enemies,” Kennedy said. Likewise, he and others worry there could be an increase in incidents targeting homosexuals because of the gay marriage debate.

The report said Jews were the targets of 32 incidents last year, followed by African Americans at 24 and Middle Easterners at 22. Fifteen incidents were aimed at gays or lesbians.

“There’s a great deal of underreporting in the Asian community,” said Jason Lacsamana, a program specialist for the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance. “Victims are fearful. They want to put it behind them. They don’t know their rights.”

Among the various types of crimes reported, vandalism ranked at the top. Others included assault, harassment and hate mail. Most victims said they were targeted at home, work or in a public place such as a park or a shopping center.

Of the 128 hate crimes and incidents, 17 resulted in criminal charges being filed by the district attorney’s office. In many cases, police said, the identity of the perpetrator could not be determined.

Among the reported hate crimes in 2003 was an Anaheim Hills cross burning in March. Greg Harris, 54, awoke shortly before 4 a.m. to a cheer outside his home. He looked out his front window to see a wooden cross draped with burning rags and pantyhose. Harris, who is black, screamed to wake his wife, Evelyn, 54, who is Latino.

The culprits fled in a car, and no one has been arrested.

“I’ve seen a lot of good out of this,” said Greg Harris. “Everyone was very supportive, and I think this made [the culprits] feel pretty embarrassed. It’s not something that people think it’s cool.”