Hate Crime Essay, Research Paper

Hate Crime

A hate crime is a violent act against people, property, or organizations because of the group to which they belong or identify with. Hate crimes are committed against many different groups of people. Different types of people also commit these crimes. Some hate crimes are crimes against property, such as vadalizism and destruction of stores, buildings, and places of worship. The largest parts of hate crimes or attacks against people. Hate crimes against another person can be as petty as simple assault without a weapon, but can also be very serious as in the case of rape or murder.

Many hate crimes are based on racial or religious bias. Racial bias is the largest cause of hate crimes. African-Americans is the largest group at risk. Racial based hate crimes have been a problem since the sixty s during the civil-rights movement. Religious bias is also a big reason for hate crimes. Jewish people and Catholics make up most of the victims of religious based crimes. During World War 2, religious based hate crimes were the worst. Nazi Germany attempted to completely wipe out the Jewish people. African-Americans, Jews, and Catholics are still somewhat segregated from the rest of the country.

Sexual minorities are often a target of hate crimes. Hate crimes against gay and a lesbian is probably the fastest growing form of hate crime.

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It is the most common form of hate crime committed by teenagers and young adults. A large percentage of homosexual people reports being the victim of hate crimes. More than half of these reports is for verbal abuse. Matthew Shepard is probably the most memorable victim of a hate crime against a sexual minority. He was a twenty-one year old University of Wyoming student who was lured away by two men, and he was beaten severely and left to die.

Hate crimes are committed by a wide variety of people. There are many organized hate groups in the world, but ordinarily law-abiding citizens who saw nothing wrong with their actions committed the majority of hate crimes. The major motive behind these crimes is nothing more than personal prejudice. More severe hate crimes tend to be committed by people with a history of antisocial behavior. Some groups simply find minorities threatening to their way of life. Many of these ideals are learned by teenagers through their parents or friends at school.

Hate crimes are a large problem in society. Hate crimes are committed against many different groups of people for no reason other than personal prejudice. The only way hate crimes can ever be stopped is if parents and other adult quit passing on these ideals of hate. Many different groups are focused solely on crimes of hate. With the use of the internet, these groups can now spread their message to a larger variety of people. Hate crimes are pointless acts of violence, and they need to be stopped.