In 2020, hate crimes reached a record high, totaling over 11,000 cases motivated because of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity. As 2022 comes to an end, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has released information surrounding hate crimes in the year of 2021, and the results are far from promising.
Although the percentage of biased and hate related crimes decreased in 2022, the percentage still lies at almost 65 percent. The crimes range from theft to murder and occurred throughout the entirety of the year.
As 2023 begins, Americans are in search of a solution that will dramatically reduce these crimes in the upcoming year. The International Association of Chiefs of Police discusses the role of prejudice and the effects an individual can make on the prevalence of hate crime in communities. They give a detailed 18 step process in order to combat this issue.
As previously discussed, preventing targeting and biased crimes is more likely to be reduced when each individual community focuses on a solution. IACP describes it as such, “Some communities already engage in crime prevention, processes that include representatives of business, religious institutions, advocacy groups, public and private schools and colleges, and the full spectrum of justice agencies. Every community should maintain a crime prevention planning process that includes a focus on hate crime.”
The IACP also discusses the importance of teaching conflict resolution to kids at a young age, in hopes they will learn to appreciate the feelings of others and resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner. Many communities throughout the United States already have panels and meetings to discuss ongoing events and future events. This marks the perfect time for leaders and political figures to stand up to hate speech in their communities.
Caroline Corcoran is a senior at Pleasant Valley and has been a part of some discussion involving the understanding of others feelings. In her 1970’s Literature course, she was able to hone in on numerous topics, that if comprehended well, could give all students the knowledge necessary to peacefully and respectfully resolve conflict. She has been analyzing an article that helped her gain a greater understanding of empathy and understanding what others are persevering on a daily basis.
The existence of such lessons at PV can be seen as a great step towards reducing hate crimes in America. Teaching high school students these topics will lead to more respectful adults, leading many to believe that the future can be so much brighter than it is right now.
