What is hate crime?
A ‘hate crime’ is simply crimes that are hostile and prejudiced in their manner, when targeting a person merely as a result of their: disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation and transgender identity.
Here are some statistics to indicate exactly how problematic this issue is:
- In 2013/14 44,471 hate crime incidents were recorded, whilst in 2014/15 this increased by 18% to 52,528 recorded hate crimes.
- Racial hate crimes remained the most targeted group, accounting for a staggering 42,930 (82%) of all hate crimes recorded in 2014/15.
- Sexual orientation hate crimes accounted for 5,597 (11%) incidents.
- Religion hate crimes accounted for 3,254 (6%) incidents.
- Disability hate crimes accounted for 2,508 (5%) incidents.
- Finally, transgender hate crimes accounted for 605 (1%).
(Home Office, 2015)
10 quotes that inspire putting an end to hate crime
Many notable figures throughout history have spoken out against hate crime. Here are ten quotes from well known personalities, ranging from Martin Luther King to John Lennon, which encourage us to put an end to hate crime.
1. “Darkness cannot drive darkness; Light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; Love can do that.”
– Martin Luther King (1963)
2. “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
– Nelson Mandela (1994)
3. “Misunderstanding arising from ignorance breeds fear, and fear remains the greatest enemy of peace.”
– Lester B. Pearson
4. “Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?”
– Ernest Gaine
5. “In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”
– The Dalai Lama
6. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m as famous for my wheelchair and disabilities as I am for my discoveries.”
– Stephen Hawking
7. “Attacking people with disabilities is the lowest display of power I can think of.”
– Morgan Freeman
8. “Don’t hate what you don’t understand.”
– John Lennon
9. “You cannot hate other people without hating yourself.”
– Oprah Winfrey
10. "Where there is love there is life.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
If you have information about #hatecrime, tell us anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via our online form.
Reference: Hate Crime, England & Wales 2015