COUNTYWIDE : Blacks No. 1 Target of County Hate Crimes

More hate crimes in Orange County are committed against African Americans than any other racial, ethnic or lifestyle group, Fran Williams, the chairwoman of the county Human Relations Commission, told Chapman University students Monday.

Williams spoke to the university’s weekly Social Science Forum on the topic of hate crimes.

Although there are only about 41,000 African Americans in Orange County--about 2% of the county’s total population--they are nonetheless the targets of the most hate crimes each year.

“One of the constants (in demographics) in Orange County has been that the African American community has remained at about 2% of the county’s total population over the years,” Williams said. “A disproportionate amount of hate crimes are committed against one of the (county’s) smallest communities.”

In fiscal year 1991-92, the commission tallied 188 hate crimes, most of which were against African Americans, Williams said. In making her address, Williams presented no new annual statistics on hate crimes. After her speech she said that figures for fiscal year 1992-93 are still being compiled.

Hate crimes are threats or assaults against someone because of his or her race, religion, ethnic group or sexual orientation.

“Hate crimes are committed for any number of reasons, but the most important are lack of information, lack of understanding, lack of knowledge--therefore a lack of respect and appreciation for members of various cultural groups,” Williams said.

She said people who are the targets of hate crimes often feel cut off from the rest of society. “One of the characteristics of victims of hate crimes is usually the feeling of isolation--the mood that they are alone,” Williams said.

The Human Relations Commission works to help victims realize they are not alone, Williams said. The commission also works to prevent hate crimes by trying to educate Orange County residents about the diversity of its population.

During a question-and-answer session following Williams’ talk, two women students said they think “crimes against women” should be considered hate crimes. In response, Williams said crimes against women usually fall under different legal categories, such as crimes of domestic violence.

But one of the questioning students said she nonetheless thinks many crimes against women are driven by hate. “Often these crimes are committed just because (the victim is) a woman,” said the student.