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Mark Potok

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FBI Reports Dramatic Spike in Anti-Muslim Hate Violence

Posted: 11/14/11 02:05 PM ET

Anti-Muslim hate crimes soared by an astounding 50% last year, skyrocketing over 2009 levels in a year marked by the vicious rhetoric of Islam-bashing politicians and activists, especially over the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque" in New York City.

Although the national statistics compiled by the FBI each year are known to dramatically understate the real level of reported and unreported hate crimes, they do offer telling indications of some trends. The latest statistics, showing a jump from 107 anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2009 to 160 in 2010, seem to reflect a clear rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric from groups like Stop Islamization of America. Much of that rhetoric was aimed at stopping an Islamic center in lower Manhattan.

At the same time, the new FBI statistics showed a rise of almost 11% in anti-Latino hate crimes. The increase may be related to anti-immigrant rhetoric deployed as Arizona passed a harsh law targeting immigrants in 2010. Since then, even more anti-immigrant rhetoric has been heard around the country, suggesting that when the FBI's 2011 statistics come out, they will show a further rise in anti-Latino hate crime.

Earlier, anti-Latino hate crimes rose some 40% between 2003 and 2007, then diminished in 2008 and 2009. The newly reported apparent rise in these crimes last year also reflected, albeit in a diminished way, a 2010 rise in anti-Latino hate crimes of almost 50% reported earlier in California.

But it was the anti-Muslim numbers that were dramatic, and they occurred in a year when many watchdog organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, reported an increase in Islam-bashing rhetoric. The year 2010 saw multiple verbal attacks on planned mosques, along with several violent attacks and arsons.

It's not provable precisely how hateful rhetoric from public figures drives criminal violence. But anecdotal evidence suggests the link is a tight one. Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, anti-Muslim hate violence skyrocketed some 1,600%. But then-President Bush gave several speeches that fall emphasizing that Muslims and Arabs were not our enemies -- only Al Qaeda was. Almost certainly thanks to that, anti-Muslim violence declined the following year by almost two thirds.

 
 
 
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12:25 PM on 11/28/2011
Friday, October 29, 2010
Celente : Muslims in Europe, pack your bags and run. You are not safe anymore!

http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot.com/2010/10/celente-muslims-in-europe-pack-your.html
10:21 PM on 11/16/2011
It is not just public figures, there has been a well orchestrated and well funded anti-Muslim propaganda campaign. The campaign includes fake news about Muslims dancing on 9/11 when it is well known that every Muslim country and every Muslim organization, except the terrorists themselves, condemned the attacks.
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dbrett480
07:12 PM on 11/17/2011
This isn't true. While most leaders of Muslim countries denounced the attacks, celebrations in major cities were widespread.
02:19 AM on 11/18/2011
You must have watched those fake videos, they are proven to be false.
04:55 PM on 11/16/2011
It's not provable precisely how hateful rhetoric from public figures drives criminal violence. But anecdotal evidence suggests the link is a tight one. Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, anti-Muslim hate violence skyrocketed some 1,600%

There are so many factors that could effect this to say it's because of puplic figures speaking is stupid. Maybe it was watching the muslim world dancing and cheering after 9/11 that caused it.
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Catherine in Tulsa
Not mother?
10:36 AM on 11/16/2011
You say it's not provable precisely, but you have the numbers. If people think they are allowed to hate another group, and commit violent acts against them, they will. John Wilkes Booth killed Lincoln and thought he was going to be a hero. These people are heroes in their small cliques whom they openly bash other races, religions, etc.
07:24 PM on 11/15/2011
How many Jewish hate crimes were reported and what is theirs compared to Muslims....much higher.
09:21 PM on 11/15/2011
how many Muslim people are fearful of reporting hate crimes or do not have the education/understanding that the discrimination they are facing is a reportable crime?
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01:02 AM on 11/16/2011
There's the end all argument. You can imagine the numbers to be as high as you like with no evidence required. Guess there's no point in debating this one.
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PermanentVacancy
Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.
07:41 AM on 11/16/2011
Look it up perpetual victim. It's always about you isn't it. you.you.you.
Rosin the Bow
Palestine doesn't want peace. Meshaal said so
09:41 AM on 11/23/2011
No seriously look up the statistics. There are a lot more hate crimes against Jews than against Muslims in the US.