Hate in Ohio: A look inside hate crimes across the state

An annual report released by the FBI in Nov. shows a 17 percent increase in hate crimes across the U.S in 2017. Law enforcement reported about 7,200 hate crimes compared to 2016’s report of an estimated 6,100. Of those 7,200 crimes, roughly 8,500 of those were victims based on race and sexual orientation.

Acting U.S Attorney General Matt Whitaker calls the report a call to action in a response to the findings and plan on stepping up their efforts in combating these crimes.

Hate crimes are typically murders, arson, or vandalism that add an element of bias. The FBI defines them as criminal offenses against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identify.

 

 

So, how does Ohio stack up to the national report? The FBI lists Ohio as sixth in the country in reported hate crimes, despite lowering their totals from the year before. Cleveland lawyer Ian Friedman said in an interview earlier this year, that Ohio in 2016 was nearly triple the national average of reported hate crimes per person. The national average is 1.8 per 100,000 persons, where Ohio sat at 4.1.

 

 

 

The Anti-Defamation League says the state’s current law against hate on-par across the country but is behind in providing protection for other groups. The current law is 31-years-old and only provides protection for victims of race, religion and ethnic crimes. There are no protections for sexual orientation, disability gender or gender identity. Last year Ohio law protected 294 cases of the 380 reported, while the remaining 86 cases did not fall under state protection. The table below breaks down the number of cases per bias motivation:

 

 

The Southern Poverty Law Center says there are 953 hate groups in the U.S and Ohio is home to 31 one of those. These groups include Neo-Nazi’s, anti-LGBT groups, the KKK and black nationalists. Below is a map showing where most of these groups call home.

 

Featured below is a comprehensive dive into hate crimes in Ohio; specifically the victims who are affected, the groups fighting for these people and what solutions could lend a helping hand in this growing problem across the state and the U.S.

Hate Crimes Among Race and Ethnicity

• By: Hailee Carlin

Violence Against Women in Relationships

• By: Ashley Torres

Threats to the LGBT Community Continue to Rise

• By: Mitch Felan