A New Effort to Combat Hate

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, March 2, 2000

Los Angeles – A hate crime is any criminal act or attempted criminal act directed against a person or persons based on the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or position in a labor dispute. Hate incidents are similar to hate crimes. The difference between a hate incident and a hate crime is that a hate incident is not a criminal act. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has developed the Hate Crime Information Circular to assist community members reduce their risk and vulnerability to hate crime and hate incidents.

"Hate crimes, hate incidents and racist behaviors destroy communities and are direct threats to the principles of democracy and equality," states Commander David J. Kalish, LAPD spokesperson. "The Hate Crime Information Circular contains important facts about hate crime, and facts community members need to know to help combat this problem."

Marking this month’s crime prevention message, the Hate Crime Information Circular will be available at all 18 Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Community Police Stations.

Hate Crime and Hate Incident Opportunity Reduction Strategies:
If you receive a threatening, harassing, obscene or hate motivated telephone call, notify the LAPD and your telephone company.

The Internet has opened up a world of information for anyone with a computer and a connection. The Internet has also opened up a new resource for those people among us who would promote hatred. Your children know or will learn about computers. But just as you wouldn’t send your children near a busy road without some safety rules, you should not send them on the information superhighway without rules of the road. Many dangers exist on the Internet for children from groups who promote hate crime and hate incidents.

Join or start a Neighborhood Watch group as a method of organizing a network of people interested in working together to reduce hate crimes and hate motivated incidents and to improve neighborhood security.

A bar or nightclub predator is a person who frequents bars, nightclubs and other places of entertainment to prey on patrons. Bar predators also commit hate crimes and are involved in hate incidents. Do not accept a drink from a stranger. Do not leave a drink unattended. Do not leave a bar, nightclub or other place of entertainment with a stranger.
There are many more strategies outlined in the "Hate Crime Information Circular." For more information, or to obtain copies of the Community Crime Prevention Circulars, contact the Community Liaison/Crime Prevention Unit, Community Relations Section, LAPD, at 213-485-3134. Additionally, the LAPD has developed the largest and most comprehensive Web site in the country to promote public safety and provide frequently requested information to all those who live, work, and visit the City of Los Angeles. For additional information regarding hate crime or other crime prevention issues please visit the official Web site of the LAPD at www.lapdonline.org.

For Release 8:00 am PST
March 2, 2000