FBI Reports Hate Crimes Hit 12-Year High in 2020
According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data, instances of hate crime in the United States have risen to the highest number in 12 years. A portion of this increase is due to attacks against Black and Asian Americans. The 2020 data was submitted to the FBI by more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies across the country. The data identified 7,759 hate-crimes in 2020.
The number of attacks against Black Americans rose from 1,930 to 2,755 and attacks on Asians jumped from 158 to 254. Of the 7,759 hate crimes, 7,426 offenses were crimes against people rather than crimes against property. Of the crimes against people, 53.4 percent were for intimidation, 27.6 percent were for simple assault, and 18.1 percent were for aggravated assault. There were twenty-two murder cases and nineteen rape cases reported as hate crimes.
In an August 30, 2021 statement, Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland said of the FBI report, “The FBI Hate Crime Statistics for 2020 demonstrates the urgent need for a comprehensive response…These statistics show a rise in hate crimes committed against Black and African-Americans, already the group most often victimized. Notably, they show a rise in hate crimes committed against members of the Asian-American Pacific Islander community.”
Attorney General Garland explained steps that DOJ was taking to tackle hate crimes, including improving incident reporting and increasing law enforcement training and community coordination.
Congress passed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in May to push the Department of Justice to dedicate more personnel and resources to combatting hate crimes, particularly against Asian Americans. The legislation calls for DOJ to work with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance to raise awareness about hate crimes during the pandemic.
At the bill signing, President Biden explained, “We heard how too many Asian Americans have been waking up each morning this past year genuinely — genuinely — fearing for their safety just opening the door and walking down the street, and safety for their loved ones… My message to all of those of you who are hurting is: We see you. And the Congress has said: We see you. And we are committed to stop the hatred and the bias.”