Tag: Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990
Can We Stop Hate in Progress?
Charlottesville, Virginia. The site of Heather Heyer. October 2017.
There has been a recent funded-study by federal guidelines, 450 human bodies that has been killed by the far right since 1990—the same year where Hate Crime Statistics Act has signed by President George H.W. Bush. That we must never forget.
Last October 2017, I visited Charlottesville, Virginia where ALT-Right movements killed Heather Heyer last August; the white supremacy must be brought up to have it rejected for the sake of humanity. I am all support to stop hate. We do not need white supremacy running our streets anymore. Not in my space. Do we have time to hate? Just yesterday, 13th of November, it was World Kindness Day. That we must never forget.
I remember in 1988 as a 14 years old kid, there was huge news about the murder of Mulugeta Seraw in Portland in the hands of skinheads, with hate ties to bad-ass white supremacy group. I was visiting my mother in Northeast Portland that time. I remember that day very well. I’ve really wished to keep that newspaper. In fact, it had happened on November 13th as well. It has hit Portland very hard.
Portland was put on an international spotlight on a map all because of this. Portland Trail Blazers might had won NBA championship in 1977. But, this one is 849,325 times bigger news than NBA championship. After Seraw’s death, Portland is not the same. Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) became the face of kindness. Morris Dees, the lead counsel for SPLC won the case in Portland. Talk about World Kindness Day! It will be always in my memory. It is a powerful trait. That we never forget.
When my hate crime professor talked about Mulugeta Seraw in a classroom in 2007, memories brought up. It was painful but at the same time, we need to remind that we must tolerate against any form of hate. It has opened my eyes to the endless of ideas and responsibilities to talk and write more about hate crime. It is part of my civic duty. We also need to bring up and discuss about hate groups and of course, far right and alt-right.
I am in solidarity with people of color, Muslims, Native Americans, and Deaf people where Trump’s support of white supremacy and its hate groups have in the tide wave of hate crimes. Recently with couple of hours ago, FBI announced that its hate crime report for 2016 has brought up with bad news that for second straight year of increasing—the first time it has actually happened in a decade. We were getting better until Trump showed up in the name of hate. Do we even realize that a decade is long time to heal from pain? We were just getting better. That we never forget.
The total of hate crimes for 2016:
6,121 incidents. Ouch.
Stop FAR RIGHT and ALT-RIGHT. We do not need another Charlottesville. Anywhere. That is why we need to remind how to teach love, not hate. That we never forget. Let’s embrace social justice! Be sure to read the references below.
“The wicked envy and hate; it is their way of admiring“-Victor Hugo
-JT
Copyright © 2017 Jason Tozier
This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.
References:
https://ucr.fbi.gov/hate-crime/2016/topic-pages/incidentsandoffenses
White People Are Dangerous Domestic Terrorists Than Muslims
Yes, the shooter from church killing in Texas was white. His name was Devin Patrick Kelley. First and foremost, we need to be aware that White people are way worst terrorists than Muslims in America. That’s true! I am not kidding. We must never be ignorant in any way whatsoever. The white supremacy continues in the wake of shooting anywhere. Muslims are never more dangerous than white people. Never!
National Rifle Association (NRA) has been always stronghold of Republicans. Even Charlie Sykes said that the GOP is “in the thrall of the NRA”–and the majority of Republicans are White and racists.
What does “thrall” means? It means the state of being in someone’s power or having great power over someone.
Can we become involved–becomes a real part of the process even at the greatest distance to stop the power of NRA? Gun violence has been the major problem in America for long time. Talk about it! Get other involved and concerned about gun violence. Follow the progress to stop gun violence. The most importantly, we should write letters to Congress.
In this time of crisis, it is us who should not hold out, by our very nature, the deepest vision of healing and peace that is possible for America. Time for all of us to enter into the collective unconscious because it is by our nature alone that we make a difference in stopping gun violence in America, but by our actions, our thoughts, in our coming together as Americans.
Trump needs a blow slap on the back of his head. With the money purse from NRA, they are appropriating gun violence in the wrong way. Gun violence, white terrorists and white supremacy are the problem, it is a death warrant, and ignoring them is a problem. How come we did not recognize the language that changed so much in its own frequency right after Trump was elected almost a year ago? The number of hate crimes has been on the rise more than ever. The majority of people who committed hate crimes since November 2016: White people.
-JT
Copyright © 2017 Jason Tozier
This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message
Rightful Presence in Justice: Challenging ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620)
I am writing this out of my great concern to respond what Congress wants to pass so-called The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Education and Reform Act of 2017 [H.R. 620] this coming Thursday, September 14th. From the moment of its passage in 1990, it has quickly reached an unprecedented global scope, overwhelming the human rights formed by Deaf people because of Deaf President Now (DPN) in 1988 to the waves of marginalized people from shore to shore in America upheavals of earlier decades.
ADA became important for everyone including Deaf people and Disabled people. The doors were open. They were left out for generations. It reminds me of a movie called Music Within based on a true story. Richard Pimentel who lost his hearing during war in Vietnam then comes home and became oppressed after that then he became a disability rights advocate. One scene where he and his friend in a wheelchair went into a restaurant in Portland, Oregon and the waitress asked them to leave because they were not “standard” people according to a law called “Ugly Laws” so controversial that made people hate people who had disabilities.
The law continued to practice for almost 100 years from late 1860s until 1970s– several American cities followed the law where people were “unsightly” or “unseemly” to appear in public then it was removed from the law books. ADA of 1990 recognized the growing pain of ugly laws and gave those people with disabilities to have rights. No more hatred. Sandra Fredman in her book, Discrimination Law in 2011, writes:
Individuals with disabilities are a discrete and insular minority who have been faced with restrictions and limitations, subjected to a history of purposeful unequal treatment, and relegated to a position of political powerlessness in our society, based on characteristics that are beyond the control of such individuals and resulting from stereotypic assumptions not truly indicative of the individual ability of such individuals to participate in, and contribute to, society.
Tyler Ray, Americans Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] Washington Legislative Office and Vania Leveille, Senior Legislative Counsel writes on September 6, 2017:
H.R. 620 would completely change the way in which a business is required to comply with the ADA. Instead of requiring that a business comply proactively, the bill would place the burden on the individual who is being denied access. This bill proposes that after an individual with a disability is denied she must first notify the business owner, with exacting specificity, that her civil rights were violated, and then wait for six months to see if the business will make “substantial progress” toward access, before going to a court to order compliance.
The key word: “would place the burden on the individual who is being denied access”—isn’t that the same thing that applies to so-called Ugly Laws? The civil rights would be violated in the highest sense of oppression. The disabled people are at a higher risk of rejecting in a bias-motivated attitude. Why should Deaf people and disabled people suffer and deal with Eighth Amendment “nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” in the United States Constitution?
As bad as Congress brought the idea about wanting to pass unlawful H.R. 620, we must remind ourselves that the old-school politicians have since the last removal of Ugly Law in 1970s, at least moved in the direction of making strongest effort possible, through the eyes of public policy, to reduce inequality for Deaf and disabled people. We must also be aware of 1964 Civil Rights Act, and ADA that has carried the legacy in our society to keep and protect the rights of all our citizens. No matter what the cost is. The H.R. 620 is unconstitutional and inhumane!
-JT
Copyright © 2017 Jason Tozier
This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.
References:
Fredman, Sandra (2011). Discrimination Law [2nd ed.]. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 96.
Hate Crime at Gallaudet University
How Can We Stop Hate Crime in Deaf America?
“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty”- Thomas Jefferson
The report by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism conducted by California State University, San Bernardino had found 22% increase in reported hate crimes in 2016 for ten largest cities in America. That is the new norm in Trump’s America, folks, this is scary. We must stop hate. OK, what about Deaf people? Where is the statistics about Deaf people?
There is something that you did not know about me—back in 2007 when I signed up for Hate Crimes and Bias course as in part of my Sociology degree. The professor required students to conduct original research projects and require no more than 25 pages essay.
My essay, Negative Perceptions of Deaf Individuals in Relation to Knowledge of American Sign Language and won my professor’s heart and attention. I was very proud of it. Maybe the best feeling I had ever done. I will share my past blog link below and let you read the blog and understand more.
Link: https://audismnegatsurdi.com/2015/02/15/in-the-name-of-deaf-hate-crime-time-to-stop-silence/
The most proud moment is that the bill passed along with the new hate crime law went into effect on January 1, 2012. It was part of my direct commitment to make sure the law passed. The sad part is that Deaf people in Oregon does not give a shit about it. I made sure that the greater harm of Deaf people comes first.
Unfortunately, the hate crime law does not recognize Deaf people in America—that’s the truth because it was not included either in state and federal hate crime statues. I am telling you that there is plenty of invisible hate crimes and hate incidents targeting Deaf people are not in the news—zero!
The sad part is that hate incidents are actually part of acts that are even protected by the United States Constitution because it is so-called “free speech”—hate speech is not recognized in America. Look at other countries, in Europe; they have laws for hate speech. That is the big problem!
On a given day, people could commit hate crimes against Deaf people in America because of “demographic membership”. It is complicated, folks, it is. Many people do not know that hate crimes are actually form of terrorism.
The act of terrorism starts with Alexander Graham Bell’s ideology. They focus on a motive to make sure “Deaf” is no longer in the dictionary. Is that not a criminal prosecution? Karl White said, “Deaf people do not know what is best for Deaf babies”—that’s an act of terrorism.
It has become a greater harm, folks—and hurts more. Hate hurts. Everyday. Everyday. Everyday. Alexander Graham Bell sends a clear message to America that they are doing everything to push for cultural genocide. I mean, think about it. There are many Deaf survivors that have to deal with deep psychological scars—no funny business!
How will we deal or stop the hate crimes in Deaf America? Deaf children are being bullied every day, Alexander Graham Bell has put the flames of hate, and we need to ask ourselves, our own Deaf people to take a stand and fight against hate and the history of oppression for more than 100+ years.
-JT
Copyright @ 2017 Jason Tozier
This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.
...And the Truth Shall Set You Free. 
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