Hate crime facts for kids
A hate crime is when someone hurts another person or damages their property because of strong, unfair feelings (called prejudice) against a group the victim belongs to. These crimes are usually not caused by anything the victim did or said. Instead, they happen just because of who the victim is. People might commit hate crimes because of prejudice about someone's gender, background, religion, nationality, gender identity (how they feel about their own gender), social class, who they like, age, or other personal traits.
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What is a Hate Crime?
A hate crime is a serious offense where the main reason for the crime is bias or prejudice. It's not just about the act itself, but also the harmful reason behind it. For example, if someone vandalizes a building because they dislike the people who use it based on their religion, that could be a hate crime.
Why Do Hate Crimes Happen?
Hate crimes often happen because people have strong, negative ideas about certain groups of people. These ideas are usually based on stereotypes and not on facts. Sometimes, these crimes are meant to scare other people who belong to the same group as the victim. This kind of scaring can feel like a form of terrorism if it happens to many people.
When Did the Term "Hate Crime" Start?
The phrase "hate crime" became common in the 1980s in the United States. At that time, news and media started talking more about crimes that were clearly caused by unfair feelings against certain types of people. This helped people understand that these crimes were different from other types of offenses.
Laws Against Hate Crimes
Many countries have laws specifically against hate crimes. These laws recognize that crimes motivated by prejudice cause extra harm to individuals and communities. They can make punishments for these crimes more severe.
The Matthew Shepard Act
In the United States, an important law called the Matthew Shepard Act was passed in 2009. This law changed how hate crimes are defined in the country's legal system. It made it clear that crimes committed because of a victim's sexual orientation (who they like), gender identity (how they feel about their own gender), or disability are considered hate crimes. This law was especially important because it was the first federal law to protect transgender people from hate crimes.
