FBI Releases Massachusetts Hate Crime Data for 2014

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Brendan Murray, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

The number of hate crimes reported in Massachusetts dropped slightly in 2014, according to newly released FBI data. In 2014, there were 315 reported hate crimes, while, in 2013, there were 330 reported offenses. Norton had the most hate crimes per capita of any city in Massachusetts, and was joined in the top three by Edgartown and West Tisbury.

SEE SLIDES BELOW: See the Massachusetts Cities and Towns with the Most Hate Crimes in 2014

Worcester once again ranked near the bottom for the cities with the most hate crimes in Massachusetts per capita, finishing 65th out of 77 cities that reported hate crimes. That is slightly worse than 2013 when the city finished second from the bottom in the city rankings for most hate crimes as GoLocal reported. The number of hate crimes in the city also rose in 2014 to six in 2014, up from just two in 2013.

"It's an interesting statistic," John Trobaugh, president of Worcester Pride, told GoLocal about Worcester’s relatively low rate of hate crimes. "It does match with my experiences here. I moved to Worcester five years ago from Alabama, so I'm sure my experience is much different than the average person here. In general, Worcester has a conservative reputation, but I'm extremely pleased with the way the community treats LGBT folks."

Worcester Ranks Low Once Again

In 2014, Worcester saw three crimes motivated by race, two by sexual orientation and one by religion, for a total of six hate crimes. That was fewer than all but 11 cities in the state of Massachusetts that reported their hate crimes to the FBI.

David LeBoeuf, of the Initiative for Engaged Citizenship, told GoLocal that Worcester’s diverse population helps ensure that hate crimes are not frequently committed.

“Worcester's strength stems from its diversity,” LeBoeuf said. “Although we as a community have a lot of work to be done in regards to eliminating bias and hate- the KKK costume and 99 incidents to name two examples- we appear to be doing much better than the rest of the country according to the statistics. This should be a great motivator to all those out there working to make Worcester a more inclusive space and a call to our public officials and agencies to embrace this work.”

Trobaugh said that he thinks the numbers re an accurate portrayal of conditions in the city.

"I see the numbers as a reflection of the reality. Worcester is a very LGBT- friendly city, and it's a very safe city. It has crime, and it's not without its issues, but I see it as a reflection of what is, rather than an anomaly," Trobaugh said. “The city councilors and the mayor pushed through an act relative to acceptable treatment of LGBT. These statistics are emblematic of our city. Our political players here, whether conservative or not, really are on the side of LGBT people. It's a very powerful thing, and it is reflected in the numbers.”

Hate Crimes Across the Country

According to the FBI date, in 2013, 1,826 law enforcement agencies reported 5,479 hate crime incidents involving 6,418 offenses. This total is down from 2013 when 5,928 hate crimes were reported. The FBI states, "the victim of a hate crime can be an individual, a business, an institution, or society as a whole. Law enforcement can indicate the number of individual victims, the number of victims 18 years of age and older, and the number of victims under the age of 18."

Analysis of the single-bias incidents shows that nearly half were racially motivated. More than 18 percent were motivated by sexual-orientation bias, and 19 percent resulted from religious bias. More than ten percent were due to ethnicity bias.

66 percent of the racially motivated incidents were motivated by anti-Black or African American bias. More than twenty percent were motivated by anti-White bias.

There were 1,017 hate crimes in the United States stemming from sexual-orientation bias. More than 58 percent were anti-gay bias towards men, and 13 percent were anti-gay bias towards lesbians. 24 percent were prompted by bias towards mixed groups of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender individuals.

Of the 6,933 reported hate crime offenses in 2013, 27 percent were intimidation. Over 26 percent of the hate crimes were a result of destruction, damage or vandalism. More than 35 percent of the hate crimes were incidents of assault.

63 percent of the hate crimes were against people, and 36 percent were against of property.

According to the Anti-Defamation League hate crimes in the United States “really are a problem.”

“Hate crimes are disturbingly prevalent,” The Anti-Defamation League said. “According to the most recent data available from the FBI, there was almost one hate crime in America in every hour of every day in 2007 – a total of more than 7,600 reported bias-motivated incidents. In addition, along with an increase in harsh, hateful rhetoric against Hispanics, immigrants and those who look like immigrants in recent months, there have been several very high-profile hate crimes against Hispanics recently, including several murders. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of the election of the first African-American President, a deep economic and housing crisis, and a broken immigration system, we have seen a disturbing increase in ideologically-motivated violence against Jews and others. Sadly, hate crimes really are a problem.”

FBI Releases Massachusetts Hate Crime Data for 2014

Worcester Ranks Low Once Again

Hate Crimes Across the Country

Related Slideshow: 77 Massachusetts Towns with the Most Hate Crimes in 2014

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