BM&WU Holds Townhall Meeting On Hate Crimes

By John E. Warren | Publisher

The San Diego County District Attorney, Summer Stephan, along with her Deputy D.A. Leonard Trinh, provided a comprehensive review and update on Hate Crimes in San Diego County last Thursday in a Virtual Town Hall meeting with Black Men & Women United Co Chairs, Dr. John Warren and Mrs. Francine Maxwell. The Zoom meeting, which was viewed by more than 170 persons, dealt with laws concerning hate crimes like the First Amendment Clause of the United States Constitution on Free Speech and the fact that speech alone is usually not a crime, unless it contains a threat of violence against a person or group of people or carries with it the apparent ability to carry out the threat.

There was a very specific definition of a Hate Crime given, which is presented here in writing for the benefit of those reading this article:

“A crime committed, in whole or in part, because of a Bias against one or more of the following actual or Perceived characteristics of the victim’s race, Ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, Disability or association with any of the above.”

The District Attorney provided a slide presentation which dealt with the importance of reporting hate crimes, hate incidents such as the display of Swastikas as was done in East county in 2020, and the importance of reporting hate incidents.

The statistics are revealing.

Across the State of California, in 2020, 66 percent of hate crimes were racial or ethnic in nature. In that same year, 86 percent of the hate crimes reported in the County of San Diego were racial or ethnic in origin, with 50 percent of all County race/ethnicity hate crimes being committed towards African Americans.

Hate crimes against religions in San Diego were directed 100 percent against the Jewish community. 100 percent of gender hate crimes in San Diego were against transgender individuals. In 2021 there were eleven anti-Black/ African American cases, and five anti-Hispanic cases and others trending in the race and ethnicity category.

The Town Hall meeting was an outgrowth of conversations between District Attorney Stephan and Mrs. Francine Maxwell, Co-Chair of Black Men & Women United. It followed a similar presentation to the County Human Relations Commission which was given by Mrs. Stephan. There was an opportunity for call-in questions which were handled by Mrs. Maxwell. The District Attorney stressed the importance of reporting incidents of hate. It was stated that many times an incident which seems harmless in isolation can be a part of a much greater pattern of behavior.

This particular Town Hall meeting is the first in a series intended to make the community more aware of hate crimes impacting so many of us.