Hate Crimes

According to the FBI, the definition of a hate crime is a "Criminal offence committed against a person or property which is motivated, in whole or by part, by the offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnicity/national origin, or sexual-orientation." Crimes upon persons because of a difference in how they appear, believe, or act have been a growing concern throughout history. (Uniform Crime Reports, 2002) According to Eric Holder, a former assistant U.S. Attorney General, "The true scope of these crimes as a growing national problem is just now being realized." (Holder, 1999) Looking back into history, many crimes could be construed as a hate crime, yet were ignored. President Lincoln was not shot for being President or for being a white male. He was shot for his beliefs against slavery.…