Hate crimes drop to 21-year low in L.A. County
Hate crimes reported in L.A. County fell to their lowest level in 21 years, fueled by major drops in vandalism and in gang-related crimes, particularly those by Latino gangs targeting African Americans, which had made up a large number of the most violent hate crimes.
The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations’ 2010 Hate Crime Report documents a third consecutive year in which hate crimes dropped around the county.
The total number of crimes fell to 427 from 593 in 2009 -- marking the lowest number of reported hate crimes since 1989.
The drop contrasted with hate crimes statewide, which remained largely unchanged in 2010 from the year before, the report noted.
In L.A. County, hate crimes reported against African Americans were cut almost in half; hate crimes against Jews fell by more than 40%.
-- Sam Quinones, Los Angeles Times