10 quotes that inspire us to stand up to hate crime

What is hate crime?

• In the year ending March 2023, there were 145,214 hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales (excluding Devon and Cornwall Police) - a 5% decrease compared with the previous year.
• Prior to the fall seen this year, hate crime offences rose between the years ending 2013 and 2022. This is thought to be due to improvements in crime recording by the police and better definitions on what consitutes a hate crime.
• The majority of hate crimes (70%) were race hate crimes, accounting for 101,906 offences. 
• Sexual orientation hate crimes fell by 6% (to 24,102 offences).
• Religious hate crimes increased by 9% (from 8,602 to 9,387 offences). 
• Disability hate crimes fell slightly by 1% (compared with the previous year, at 13,777 offences).
• Finally, transgender identity hate crimes increased by 11% (to 4,732 offences).

(Home Office, 2023)

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.