|
Bias incidents and/or hate crimes involve behavior that is motivated by race,
religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, gender,
age, or disability. Bias incidents include those actions that are motivated
by bias, but may not meet the necessary elements required to prove a crime.
Hate crimes are also motivated by bias and they include property damage, personal
injury, or other illegal conduct.
A hate crime is a bias incident that has risen to the level of a violation
of criminal statue. All hate crimes are bias incidents, but not all bias
incidents are hate crimes.
|
Examples:
Two lesbian students, one white and one black, are returning from a gay film festival at the student union. As they walk down a campus street, a car drives by. Someone leans out of the car, throws a beer can at the women and screams: "You race traitor dyke!" The can hits one of the women in the face, resulting in a laceration that requires medical attention.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, unknown perpetrators vandalized the Chicano Cultural Center, breaking windows, ransacking the interior and spray painting: "Wetbacks don't belong. Learn the language. Affirmative action must end!"
Think you know the difference? Take our interactive
quiz >>
|
