Hate Crime Statistics

According to The Federal Bureau of Investigation >> Hate Crime Statistics 2011, hate crime statistics for the year 2011 in the state of Massachusetts show that within the 6,361,208 people that were in the "population covered", 80 incident reports were submitted (Federal, 2011).

Massachusetts Hate Crime Laws 

According to the State Hate Crimes Statutory Provisions of the State of Massachusetts, the following is covered under state law:

• Bias-Motivated Violence and Intimidation
• Civil Action
• Race, Religion and Ethnicity
• Interference with Religious Worship
• Sexual Orientation
• Disability
• Institutional Vandalism
• Data Collection
• Training for Law Enforcement Personnel

It is important to note that gender and "other" are not covered under state law (State, n.d).

Moreover, according to the Congressional Research Service concerning states statutes governing hate crimes, there are also statutes for crime/penalty enhancement, institutional vandalism, data collection and law enforcement training. The statutes for crime/penalty enhancement state that no person "shall by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, or suppress or threaten any other person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege" (Congressional, 2010) secured to him/her by the constitution or laws of the United States. They also provide penalties for commission of assault, battery upon a person and damages made to real or personal property, for individuals with the intent to intimidate such a person because of  their religion, race, national origin, color, disability or sexual orientation. The statute for institutional vandalism provides penalties for anyone who willfully, intentionally and without right, destroys, defaces or injures a church, synagogue or other buildings of worship, schools, community centers and any adjacent land owned  by any of the property. The statute for data collection states that "The Colonel of State Police shall promulgate regulations relative to the collection of hate crime data" (Congressional, 2010).  Finally, the statute for law enforcement training states that the municipal police training committee will provide instructions for police officers dealing with hate crime related incidents (Congressional, 2010). 

Racially-Motivated Church Arson, Springfield, MA

According to The United States Department of Justice >> Office of Public Affairs, on January 27, 2009, three men by the names of Benjamin Haskell, 22, Michael Jacques, 24 and Thomas Gleason, 21 were indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Massachusetts for "conspiring to interfere with the civil rights of members of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, a Springfield, Mass., church with a predominantly African-American congregation" (Office, 2009). The church's new building was burnt down November 5, 2008, just hours after the election of President Barack Obama. The indictment alleged that the three men "conspired to burn the church in retaliation for the election of the country's first African-American president" (Office,2009). Furthermore, the indictment also stated that on election night, Haskell, Jacques and Gleason "used racial slurs and expressed anger with the election of Barack Obama and discussed burning the Macedonia Church of God in Christ's new church building because the church members, congregants and bishop were African-American" (Office,2009) which Haskell, Jacques and Gleason later admitted to (United, 2011). The new building was almost entirely destroyed, after they poured gasoline all through the interior and exterior and set it on fire. Firefighters attending the scene were said to suffer injuries as they worked to extinguish the fire (Office,2009). The case was to be further investigated by many different departments.

After further investigation, according to The United States Department of Justice >> The United States Attorney's Office District of Massachusetts, on April 14, 2011 Michael Jacques, 26, was convicted of three crimes related to the burning of the church. Those charges included:

Count One: Conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate the mostly African American parishioners of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in the free exercise of the right to hold and use their new church building which was under construction; 

Count Two: Damaging the parishioners’ new church building through arson and obstructing their free exercise of religion because of their race, color and ethnic characteristics; and 

Count Three: Using fire to commit Counts One and Two (United, 2011).

Benjamin Haskell had previously pleaded guilty, where he was sentenced to nine years in prison. Thomas Gleason also pleaded guilty and his sentencing was scheduled April 28, 2011. Sentencing for Michael Jacques was scheduled for September 15, 2011 by Judge Ponsor. Jacques "faces up to 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count" (United, 2011). 

Media Portrayal

Below are two media portrayals, a video and movie trailer, that have both been created with the intent to raise awareness concerning issues involving hate crimes.

Take Action Against Hate Crimes

This video was made with the intent of it's title; to persuade the public to take action against hate crimes. Throughout this video you are given statistics about hate crimes and are told the sad and unfortunate stories of past victims who have suffered through such misfortune. Take action now!

Hate Crime Trailer

This clip is the trailer to a hit independent film "Hate Crime." A gay man moves into a new neighborhood, only to find out that his new neighbor feels very strongly his sexual orientation. A hate crime is committed and the neighbor quickly becomes a suspect. 

References

Congressional Research Service. (2010). State Statutes Governing Hate Crimes. Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33099.pdf

Office of Public Affairs, The United States Department of Justice. (2009). Three Men Indicted for Racially-Motivated Church Arson in Springfield, Mass.. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/January/09-crt-067.html 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2011). Hate Crime Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2011/tables/table-12

The United States Attorney's Office District of Massachusetts, The United States Department of Justice. (2011). Springfield Man Convicted of Church Arson. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2011/April/JacquesMichaelVerdictPR.html 

State Hate Crimes Statutory Provisions. (n.d.). Massachusetts. Retrieved from http://archive.adl.org/learn/hate_crimes_laws/map_frameset.html