The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission reports that bias incidents and crimes have increased since 2020. This is coming after the Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action for Blacks. Racist white activist got with Asians to push a racist narrative concerning higher education. This and local hate crimes are driven in part by extremist rhetoric becoming more mainstream. This is according to a new report.
Racist acts have included nooses being left in schoolyards and on people’s doorsteps. There are other forms of biased hate being displayed including pride flags beibg torn down and burned. Also, places of worship have been defaced and damaged. Threats of violence, rape and death have been written on walls. However, anti-Black/African American bias has been the largest category, making up over a quarter of the reports. Reports of bias incidents at schools have increased from 36 in 2020 to a whooping 408 reports last year.
The ACLU of Oregon’s Sandy Chung said she’s concerned about what she sees as an increase in hateful rhetoric pushed by politicians. “When electeds in local school boards or in the state Legislature use dehumanizing approaches, language or tactics against trans people, racial justice protesters, or other historically disenfranchised or marginalized communities, some people run with that as permission to engage in hate,” Chung said.
Oregon has had a hotline to address the matter for years. Calls to the state Justice Department hotline increased 74% from 2021 to 2022. Last year, the hotline received 2,534 reports of bias incidents and crimes. So, much seems to be driving hate including a lack of leadership on the issue and “underreporting is extensive,” the report states.
Information shows that less than one-third of people charged with a bias crime last year were convicted of any charge. Most defendants, according to the most recent report, are sentenced to probation, and few go to prison on a bias charge conviction. The report notes that some prosecutors may be incorrectly classifying hateful behavior as mental health issues.
