KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Hate crime statistics

Hate crime statistics

By Ben Wolf – bio|email

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) – Hate crimes against blacks, gays, and religious groups are on the rise according to the FBI.
Federal officials say the total number of hate crimes rose two percent in just one year.
We took the issue to community leaders in Shreveport.
"I thought we had got to the point in this nation where everybody can get along and have some tolerance for one another but if those numbers are saying that, it's very disturbing," said Shreveport-Bossier NAACP President.
"When the economy goes down people look for scapegoats and so then maybe the hate crimes go up.  I think it's a cyclical thing.  I think as the economy comes back the hate crimes go down," said North Louisiana Jewish Federation Executive Director Susan Gross.
Most people we talked to say they are fortunate to live in a place where things are improving, but they are certainly aware that it's not like that everywhere.
Less than a month ago, police investigated a hate crime in a synagogue in North Hollywood, California.
They believe a man walked in and shot two people in the legs.
The FBI reports in 2008 the number of hate crimes rose two percent.
"It's a tragedy to me that in 2009 and 2010, that people don't understand that love is the only way," said Bossier City resident Tyrone Darden.
According to FBI statistics, the number of incidents against blacks rose eight percent.
Hate crimes against religious groups rose nine percent and crimes against gays rose three percent.
"It breaks my heart that we can't learn to love each other," Minden resident Lisa Whitesell.
The Shreveport police report no cases of hate crimes in their jurisdiction.
The Executive Director of the North Louisiana Jewish Federation says they have had only minor problems with a few kids in the past quarter century.
The Shreveport-Bossier NAACP president tells KSLA News 12 they typically investigate race relation problems in the workplace.
Most people we talked to say things are improving in the South.
"It's just so up and down from time to time, you hear one thing and another.  It's definitely still out there you just hate that it's going on," said Shreveport Resident Nick Huckaby.
President Obama recently signed a bill that allows more offenses to fall under hate crimes.

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