Resources
Hate Crime Prevention Resources
California Laws
California in 1998 enacted a law that makes the offense of vandalism because of a person's race. color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation, punishable as a misdemeanor or felony. (Statutes of 1998, Chapter 850)
Federal Laws
The Ralph Civil Rights Act: Addresses the problem of racial, ethnic, religious, and minority violence by providing civil and administrative remedies for those who are victims of violence directed against any particular class of persons.
The Bane Civil Rights Act: Protects people from continued violence of the threat of violence based on grounds such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affirmation, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or position in a labor dispute.
Other statutes recently add gender to the list of felony hate crimes for which enhanced penalties may apply (Statues of 1998, Chapter 933); and add school property to the list of sites for which felony or misdemeanor penalties may apply when any person who burns or desecrates a cross or other religious symbol, knowing it to be a religious symbol, for the purpose of terrorizing the owner or occupant or in reckless disregard of the risk of terrorizing the owner or occupant (Statutes of 1998; Chapter 414).
David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act 2013 or David's Law: Amends the federal criminal code to impose penalties for willfully causing bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive device, attempting to cause such injury, whether or not acting under color of law, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person, where the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce.
Online Resources
American Psychological Association
Links to an article from the American Psychological Association investigating the emotions behind hate crimes and how to prevent them.
A website with information about combating hate crimes and protecting the civil rights of all people.
Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict, Northeastern University
Information about the mission of the Brudnick Center: solving hostility stemming from intergroup conflicts.
Here you will find information on a nonprofit organization working to create a safe campus environment for LGBT students.
Provides a National listing of LGBT friendly colleges and universities.
A site using education in order to combat prejudice; provides resources for educators, students, and professional development.
A website providing information about the Federal Bureau of Investigation and crime statistics.
Hate Crimes Prevention Resources
This website provides a link to research on hate crimes.
An organization working on LGBT rights, this website provides information about legislation such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act as well as other state laws and policies.
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund
It provides information about this coalition dedicated to creating an "open and just society."
This website provides resources for LGBTQ Youth.
This website provides the story of Matthew Shepard whose death due to an anti-gay hate crime resulted in the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The foundation, established by his parents, seeks education, outreach, and advocacy to "replace hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance."
Napa Valley College Bias Incident Response Team
Provides information about the Bias Incident Response Team in place at Napa Valley College.
This non-profit organization is "dedication to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society."