FBI finds attacks against Latinos on rise

[struggle4progress]

BY SUMATHI REDDY
November 23, 2008

In a Pennsylvania coal mining town last July, four high school football players were accused of shouting ethnic slurs at a Mexican immigrant before a brawl erupted and Luis Ramirez, 25, was killed.

Three of the teens were charged with ethnic intimidation, and the attack became part of a growing category of crimes reported in the U.S.: hate attacks against Hispanics.

Attacks on Hispanics grew 40 percent from 2003 to 2007, outpacing the estimated 16 percent increase in the Hispanic population in the U.S., according to FBI statistics. Over the same time period, the total number of hate-crime incidents reported nationwide has remained steady.

"We do know from reports and from hate-group activity that there's a new focus on the Latino and immigrant populations," said Randy Blazak, director of the Hate Crimes Research Network at Portland State University in Oregon ...

http://www.newsday.com/about/ny-lihate2412199891nov23,0,3336318.story

[AspenRose]

1. If you can spare it, please consider donating to the SPLC

They are going to need all the help they can get in the next few years. :-(

[Vattel]

2. It seems corny

but I recommend going out of one's way to be friendly to members of any group that is the object of a lot of hatred. Smile and say "Hi" to the hispanic immigrant even if they don't look you in the eyes or seem friendly. Usually if they are looking away it's because they are worried that you don't respect or appreciate them.

[democracy1st]

3. unfortunately there's quite a few problems brewing in immigrant and also native american communities

Since Bush and his cronies took over the Justice Dept alot of crimes have been ignored