The above image was published in the Tuscaloosa news today in conjunction with a story concerning a hate crime. If you cannot make it out, the letters "KKK" were spray painted on the streets and trailors of eight Hispanic and 8 African-American residents of a trailer park in Northport.
When I saw this story, I immediately began to think about the hate crime legislation in the state of Alabama. I thought I knew what our hate crimes laws covered, but was surprised and dismayed to discover that I was mistaken.
I found an Alabama State website which provided a brief explanation of what was covered under the Alabama Hate Crimes Legislation. However, I wanted to find out what other states' legislation looked like. So, I found a website sponsored by the Anti Defamation League which provided a Hate Crimes legislation checklist. When looking at the website, it shows that Alabama provides for the following:
1. Bias Motivated Violence and Intimidation
2. Criminial Penalty (For commission of such acts)
3. Legislation covers race, religion, and ethnicity
4. Institutional Vandalism
5. Also included: Mental and physical handicap and
disability
Although it is wonderful that we have these provisions for the commission of hate crimes in the state of Alabama, we are still very seriously lacking in these provisions when compared with other states. As you can see when you view the website, other states have our provisions, as well as others which offer more expansive coverage:
1. Civil Action
2. Inclusion of Sexual Orientation
3. Inclusion of Gender
4. Data collection which includes both sexual orientation
and gender - as well as race, ethnicity, and religion
5. Mandatory training for law enforcement personnell.
Rhode Island, Washington, Louisiana, Minnesota, and California are the only states which include all of the aforementioned provisions.
After viewing all of this information, I believe I am much more educated on both Alabama's hate crime legislation and those of the rest of the country. Now that you know a little bit more, what do you think about our Hate Crime Legislation? Do we have enough coverage? Is what we have enough?
Thoughts? Comments?
8 comments:
First of all, seeing that picture infuriates me. I can think of many things to say about individuals who would do such things, but I will refrain from doing so in here. :) I am not familiar with legislation (of any nature, really) but I am glad to see what we have in place in Alabama. However, I do think that we need to expand on it, as other states have done,to include more specific things. The law enforcement training I think would especially be useful. I like to think of my hometown being different from other towns/cities in Alabama because we are a military town and have a lot of diversity in our population. However, I have been to many other places in Alabama where I can imagine things of this nature (the spray painting, etc) being ignored by some police.
I just left a whole long comment and hit a back button and lost it all. so, this one will be shorter - but In essence, I think we have a lot of good legislation in place for our State. I like what the few other states have also included, and I think it would be beneficial to our state to include those things as well.
Honestly, I’m saddened to admit that I’m not surprise. Our country’s history has shown us that equal rights are not automatically ensured to minority group and that provisions to protect citizens from hate crimes are not always guaranteed. Alabama is nationally known for its injustices to minorities during the 1960, and it is my belief that the only reason there are provisions in our laws today related to race is because of the violence, intimidation, and institutional vandalism experienced during that time. I’m sure there is a gays and lesbian population in Alabama, but that population is definitely not as out spoken and persistent about attaining equal right as California’s gay population (which is nationally know for speaking up about injustices associated with sexual orientation). I believe that the squeaky wheel gets the oil as it relates to civil rights. It’s our job as future Social Work to aid those forgotten populations in creating that “squeak” and to facilitate their access to services that target their population.
Honestly, I’m saddened to admit that I’m not surprise. Our country’s history has shown us that equal rights are not automatically ensured to minority group and that provisions to protect citizens from hate crimes are not always guaranteed. Alabama is nationally known for its injustices to minorities during the 1960, and it is my belief that the only reason there are provisions in our laws today related to race is because of the violence, intimidation, and institutional vandalism experienced during that time. I’m sure there is a gays and lesbian population in Alabama, but that population is definitely not as out spoken and persistent about attaining equal right as California’s gay population (which is nationally know for speaking up about injustices associated with sexual orientation). I believe that the squeaky wheel gets the oil as it relates to civil rights. It’s our job as future Social Work to aid those forgotten populations in creating that “squeak” and to facilitate their access to services that target their population.
Marashia McCormick
Alabama, as well as many other states, needs stricter laws governing what constitutes a hate crime. It is my belief that laws governing hate crimes should be standarized across the country. Innocent people are being tortured and murdered just because they are perceived to be different in some way. Many times the person commiting the crime does not get nearly enough jail time. Personally, I feel Alabama has made a leap in the right direction to include hate crimes but it needs to do a lot more to protect its population.
I think dilike the idea that racism still exists. There are people twho think this type of behavior is okay. I am elated that the state of Alabam have adopted the laws to help minorities. We still need more than the laws put in place, the laws need to be executed if we want to try to end the war of hate and all acts of hate crimes. There need to be more laws enforced to help the cirizens of Alabama.
My first thoughts are geared toward the motivation of the crime. Maybe I'm way off in thinking in this direction, but what if we started dealing with the root issues of problems instead of just dealing with the manifestation of them?
The Birmingham, Alabama (ABC 33/40 6 p.m.) television news for Friday, July 18, 2008 stated that arrests have been made. The two male youths are 10 and 17 year olds and will (thankfully) not be charged with a hate crime because the nature of the offenses does not meet the criteria.
The 10 year old actually committed the felonies! The sad thing is that these youths have lacked the parental discipline and guidance (be it family or The Village) to teach ethics and boundaries for a successful journey through life.
Had I lived in these youth's neighborhood, or knew them at all, I would have to claim culpability for their actions by my lack of involvement concerning their developmental needs for self-esteem and the life-skills needed to traverse successfully through life. Now they are faced with a criminal justice system that (especially in Alabama) is woefully inadequate in re-education and cares less about rehabilitation.
Shame on you, that knew or know these (or other) youths, for not taking the time and energy to recognize that they lacked guidance and need(ed) your intervention; shame on me if I fail to continue to do the same!
Lloyd Coleman
Birmingham, Alabama
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