Race remained the leading motivator for hate crimes committed in the United States during 2008, according to the FBI's Hate Crimes Statistics, 2008 report.
According to the FBI report, 4,943 or 51 percent of the 9,691 victims of hate crimes committed in 2008 were targeted because of their race. Of the known hate crime offenders, 61.1 percent were white, 20.2 percent were black, and 11.0 percent were of an unknown race.
Religious bias motivated 19.5 percent of all hate crimes in 2008, while 16.7 percent were motivated by a sexual orientation bias, and 11.5 percent were motivated by an ethnicity/national origin bias. One percent involved a bias against a disability.
As reported by U.S. law enforcement agencies, victims of hate crimes may include individuals, businesses, institutions, or society as a whole.
The Hate Crimes Statistics, 2008 report showed that the largest percentage (31.9 percent) of total 7,783 hate crime incidents reported in 2008 occurred in or near homes; followed by 17.4 percent on highways, roads, alleys, or streets; 11.7 percent at schools or colleges; 6.1 percent in parking lots or garages; and 4.2 percent in churches, synagogues, or temples.
More Reasons to Hate in 2008: In October, President Obama signed legislation expanding federal hate crimes laws beyond assaults motivated by religion, race, color or national origin to include assaults motivated by the victim's sexual orientation, gender, disability or gender identity.
Also See:
American Hater: The 2007 Hate Crime Statistics
Congress Passes Extended Hate Crimes Bill
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