The FBI reported on Monday that the national hate crime level in 2020 has risen to the highest level in more than a decade, with more than 7,700 crime reports.
That report Established The increase in hate crimes is attributable to a sharp increase in attacks on Asians and blacks. Compared with the previous year, attacks against blacks have increased by 70%, while crimes against Asians have increased by nearly 60%.
Crimes against black people accounted for the majority of reported hate crime cases, with 2,755 reported cases in 2020. At the same time, there were 274 cases against Asians.
In contrast, attacks against whites have risen by about 16%.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement: “These hate crimes and other prejudice-related incidents have instilled fear throughout the community and undermined the principles on which our democracy is based.”
Garland pointed out in his statement that the FBI data “does not explain many unreported hate crimes.”
Most hate crimes are based on intimidation, but vandalism and simple attacks also constitute most types of crime. Most crimes occur in homes.
California Rep. Judy Zhu, Chairman of the Asian-Pacific American Caucus of the Congress, Tell the Washington Post The “increasing racist and xenophobic speech of political leaders” is contributing to the increase in hate crimes.
He added that the report “must be a wake-up call for all those who irresponsibly spread fear and anger in our communities, who put their lives at risk.”
Approximately 64% of reported hate crimes are directed at people’s race, ethnicity, and ancestry. The two most-reported categories below are religion (15%) and sexual orientation (14%).
