Hate crimes are also known as bias crimes and these are crimes that are motivated by enmity against a protected class in society. This means that crimes are committed on the basis of a person’s protected characteristics like his race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or because of a disability.
Hate crimes include acts like vandalism, arson, assault or murder of a person of such characteristics that he or she cannot change. These criminal acts are committed and motivated by prejudice which harms not only the person with protected characteristics but also the society as a whole. It is the essence of the constitution to protect freedom of speech, expression and thought but no one has the right to punish people for beliefs and characteristics that they might have which are different from the majority.
In the recent past, the hate crimes law only covered a limited area of hate crimes. Basic civil rights laws 10 years ago stated that persons with protected characteristics have the right to attend school, have the right to be themselves and have the right to be free from violence which is motivated by prejudice or hatred. As of October 2009, President Obama expanded the hate crimes law by signing a bill on hate crimes where the prerequisite of engaging in a federally protected activity is lifted.
Hate crimes constitute violence, threats of harm, intimidation, or damage to belongings. It also includes harassment, discrimination, and being attacked just because of their gender identity, religion or race. Victims of hate crimes are left feeling degraded, frightened, suspicious, vulnerable or worse, dead. This leads to a feeling of fear, outrage or alienation in a specific group where they also feel vulnerable and powerless. If this happens, the society is also affected with fear and even loss of trust in the whole system.
