 |
|||
Harold Davis |
Frank Dimant |
Allan Adel |
Ruth Klein |
|
|||
Harold Davis |
Frank Dimant |
Allan Adel |
Ruth Klein |
Researchers have found that most hate crimes are carried out by otherwise law-abiding people of all age-groups, who see little wrong with their actions:
“Alcohol and drugs sometimes help fuel these crimes, but the main determinant appears to be personal prejudice, a situation that colors people's judgment, blinding the aggressors to the immorality of what they are doing. Such prejudice is most likely rooted in an environment that disdains someone who is "different" or sees that difference as threatening. One expression of this prejudice is the perception that society sanctions attacks on certain groups.”
It has been noted that hate crimes have an impact not only on the victim, but also on his or her community. This hate-related activity is "designed to intimidate the victim and members of the victim's community, leaving them feeling isolated, vulnerable, and unprotected by the law."
The personal attack, though, is perhaps the most painful. Core aspects of the "victim's identity and community affiliation" are affected, and the distress is intensified because the incident "represents a serious attack on a fundamental aspect of the victim's personal identity".
Researchers have noted hate crime offenders are "sending a message to members of a certain group that they are unwelcome in a particular neighborhood, community, school, or workplace", and that hate crimes are not "random, uncontrollable, or inevitable occurrences". Society can successfully intervene to reduce or prevent these occurrences. However, if the perception is created that it is society itself that is sanctioning the acting out of prejudice against certain groups, then such intervention will be ineffective.
The following comments are amongst the victim impact statements recorded in the League’s database:
“The people who hurt me today will hurt you tomorrow”
“It is important for community leaders to stand up and take notice of these types of things.”
“We’ve been living with it for so long. It’s bad and I'm frightened.
“I came to Canada expecting now to live in peace, but I am scared that the same old hatreds are following me here.”
“There are all kinds of sick people in this world...”
"It's quite shocking... I'm having a hard time concentrating and can't write more - but the atmosphere is very chilling."
"Sometimes I feel scared that people are able to do this, that people actually have a place in their body to get them to do this. It's kind of scary."
"Is no place safe anymore? It's always on my mind."
“Yes, it happens all the time on my walk home from Shul [synagogue] - I think I am immune to it until it hits me in the face all over again.”
“My daughter begged me to take the mezuzah down from our door so she could go to sleep not having to worry that anyone knows we're Jewish.”
"On campus I just keep my head down. I walk straight to class and back again. I don’t want anyone to see me going to any Jewish events."
"It saddens me that people have so little respect in our day."
"We had to say our religion in class. Then the trouble started for me at the [University hall of] Residence…"
"Antisemitism is nothing new. Canadians need to wake up and realize they are not immune."
The following comments, made in last year's Audit, are equally true today and certainly bear repeating:
"These individuals were able to comprehend and articulate their victimization, but such is not always the case. In fact, over the past few years, the bar has been raised on what victims themselves, as well as society in general, are prepared to tolerate in terms of antisemitic activity. A process of desensitization, both within and outside the Jewish community, has meant that what was once seen as offensive and unacceptable is now being viewed as less serious and even routine. Visibly orthodox Jews, in particular, view such harassment as inevitable."