HATE CRIMES AT SCHOOLS

HATE CRIMES AT HATE CRIMES AT SCHOOLSSCHOOLS

Presented by:Presented by:

North Carolina Human Relations North Carolina Human Relations CommissionCommission

1318 Mail Service Center1318 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, North Carolina 27699-Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-

13181318(919) 789-5930/Office Number(919) 789-5930/Office Number(919)420-1372/Fax Number (919)420-1372/Fax Number

WHAT IS THE LAW WHAT IS THE LAW PERTAINING TO HATE PERTAINING TO HATE

CRIMES IN SCHOOLS? CRIMES IN SCHOOLS?

WHAT IS THE LAW PERTAINING TO WHAT IS THE LAW PERTAINING TO HATE CRIMES AT SCHOOLS?HATE CRIMES AT SCHOOLS?

FEDERAL LAWFEDERAL LAW

42 U.S. C.S.§ 200d42 U.S. C.S.§ 200d

States: “Prohibition against exclusion from participation in, denial ofStates: “Prohibition against exclusion from participation in, denial ofbenefits of, and discrimination under federally assisted programs onbenefits of, and discrimination under federally assisted programs ongrounds of race, color or national origin.grounds of race, color or national origin.

No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, orNo person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, ornational origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefitsnational origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefitsof, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activityof, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activityreceiving federal financial assistance.” receiving federal financial assistance.”


State LawsState LawsN.C. G.S. 115C-47(12) (36)N.C. G.S. 115C-47(12) (36)

States: “To Report All Acts of School Violence- Local boards of States: “To Report All Acts of School Violence- Local boards of

education shall report all acts of school violence to the State education shall report all acts of school violence to the State

Board of Education in accordance with N.C. G.S. 115C-12 (21).Board of Education in accordance with N.C. G.S. 115C-12 (21).

N.C.G.S. 115C-105.46 (4) N.C.G.S. 115C-105.46 (4) States: “[The State Board of Education] may revoke the certificate of States: “[The State Board of Education] may revoke the certificate of

the superintendent, pursuant to G.S. 115C-274(c), for failure to fulfill the superintendent, pursuant to G.S. 115C-274(c), for failure to fulfill the superintendent’s duties under a local safe school plan.” the superintendent’s duties under a local safe school plan.”


STATE LAWS (CONTINUED)STATE LAWS (CONTINUED)

N.C.G.S. 115C-105.47(a)N.C.G.S. 115C-105.47(a)

States: “Each local board of education shall develop a localStates: “Each local board of education shall develop a local

school administrative unit safe school plan designed toschool administrative unit safe school plan designed to

provide that every school in the local school administrativeprovide that every school in the local school administrative

unit is safe, secure, and orderly, that there is a climate ofunit is safe, secure, and orderly, that there is a climate of

respect in every school, and that appropriate personalrespect in every school, and that appropriate personal

conduct is a priority for all students and all public schoolconduct is a priority for all students and all public school

personnel.” personnel.”


STATE LAWS (CONTINUED)STATE LAWS (CONTINUED)

N.C.G.S 14-401.14(a)N.C.G.S 14-401.14(a)

States: “If a person shall, because of race, color, States: “If a person shall, because of race, color,

religion, nationality, or country of origin assaultreligion, nationality, or country of origin assault

another person, or damage or deface the propertyanother person, or damage or deface the property

of another person, or threaten to do any such act,of another person, or threaten to do any such act,

he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.


LEGISLATIVE UPDATELEGISLATIVE UPDATE

ANTI-NOOSE/CROSS BURNING ANTI-NOOSE/CROSS BURNING LEGISLATIONLEGISLATION

N.C.G.S. Chapter 14-401.14A.N.C.G.S. Chapter 14-401.14A. States: [It is] unlawful to burn a cross or States: [It is] unlawful to burn a cross or hang a noose with the intent to hang a noose with the intent to

intimidate.intimidate.


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (continued)LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (continued)

A person who burns a cross or hangs a noose A person who burns a cross or hangs a noose with the expectation and the probability that with the expectation and the probability that another person will view the cross or noose another person will view the cross or noose with the intent to intimidate that person with the intent to intimidate that person because of race, color, religion, nationality or because of race, color, religion, nationality or country of origin is guilty of a Class H felonycountry of origin is guilty of a Class H felony

Passed the 2008 short session of N.C. General Passed the 2008 short session of N.C. General Assembly and law goes into effect on Assembly and law goes into effect on December 1, 2008.December 1, 2008.

WHAT IS A HATE CRIME? WHAT IS A HATE CRIME?

WHAT IS A HATE BIAS WHAT IS A HATE BIAS INCIDENT? INCIDENT?

WHAT IS A HATE CRIME?WHAT IS A HATE CRIME?

Criminal offense.Criminal offense. Against persons, property or societyAgainst persons, property or society Bias-motivated towards persons of a Bias-motivated towards persons of a

different race, religion, ethnic/national different race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.orientation.

Arson, assault, murder, shooting, Arson, assault, murder, shooting, vandalism.vandalism.

WHAT IS A HATE BIAS WHAT IS A HATE BIAS INCIDENT?INCIDENT?

Not a criminal offenseNot a criminal offense Bias-motivated towards persons of a Bias-motivated towards persons of a

different race, religion, different race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.disability or sexual orientation.

Marches, leafleting, rallies, Marches, leafleting, rallies, membership solicitation, derogatory membership solicitation, derogatory public statements, public expressions public statements, public expressions

WHAT DOES A HATE WHAT DOES A HATE CRIME LOOK LIKE? CRIME LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DOES A HATE CRIME AT WHAT DOES A HATE CRIME AT SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?

Racial graffitiRacial graffiti Hate speechHate speech Vandalism with Vandalism with

symbols and symbols and phrases phrases

ThreatsThreats FightsFights AssaultsAssaults

8888

RAHOWA

WHAT DOES A HATE CRIME AT WHAT DOES A HATE CRIME AT SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?

Websites and E-Websites and E-mailsmails

Hate LiteratureHate Literature Hate MusicHate Music Student AlienationStudent Alienation

WHAT DOES A HATE CRIME/BIAS WHAT DOES A HATE CRIME/BIAS AT SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?AT SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?

5 words5 words (“I have nothing to (“I have nothing to say’)say’)

14 Words14 Words (“We must secure (“We must secure the existence of our people the existence of our people and a future for white and a future for white children”)children”)

100%100% (An expression of an (An expression of an individual’s pure Aryan or individual’s pure Aryan or white roots.)white roots.)

SWPSWP (Supreme White Power) (Supreme White Power) KIGYKIGY (“Klansman, I greet (“Klansman, I greet

you!”) you!”) WPWW WPWW (White Pride World (White Pride World

Wide)Wide) ORIONORION (A Ku Klux (A Ku Klux

Klan saying ‘Our Race Klan saying ‘Our Race Is Our Nation”) Is Our Nation”)

SCHOOL WIDE SCHOOL WIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

TO HATE CRIMESTO HATE CRIMES

SCHOOL WIDE EMERGENCY SCHOOL WIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESPONSE

FOCUS ON SAFETY FIRSTFOCUS ON SAFETY FIRST

Alert authoritiesAlert authorities Follow school safety proceduresFollow school safety procedures Restore orderRestore order Protect witnesses and informantsProtect witnesses and informants Take rumors of violence seriously Take rumors of violence seriously

SCHOOL WIDE EMERGENCY SCHOOL WIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSERESPONSE

GET THE FACTSGET THE FACTS

Look for signs of bias motivationLook for signs of bias motivation Take all reports of bias seriouslyTake all reports of bias seriously Gather informationGather information Denounce false reportsDenounce false reports


DENOUNCE THE HATEFUL ACT AND DENOUNCE THE HATEFUL ACT AND ADDRESS FEARS AND CONFUSIONADDRESS FEARS AND CONFUSION

Issue a statementIssue a statement Keep parents informedKeep parents informed Designate one individual to handle Designate one individual to handle

outside inquiriesoutside inquiries View the media as alliesView the media as allies Address faculty and staff concernsAddress faculty and staff concerns Encourage respectful behaviorEncourage respectful behavior


INVOLVE EVERYONE IN FINDING INVOLVE EVERYONE IN FINDING SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS

Prepare a detailed summary of eventsPrepare a detailed summary of events Encourage an open discussion Encourage an open discussion

(faculty/students/community)(faculty/students/community) Make counseling available for students Make counseling available for students

and staffand staff Give students a leadership roleGive students a leadership role


PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR VICTIMSPROVIDE SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS Confer with the victim’s familyConfer with the victim’s family Use extreme sensitivityUse extreme sensitivity Express regretExpress regret Encourage student outreachEncourage student outreach Be sensitive to privacy concerns in Be sensitive to privacy concerns in

anti-gay incidentsanti-gay incidents


ENFORCE APPROPRIATE ENFORCE APPROPRIATE CONSEQUENCES FOR OFFENDERSCONSEQUENCES FOR OFFENDERS

Involve the family of the offenderInvolve the family of the offender Involve a teacher whom the offender Involve a teacher whom the offender

respectsrespects Incorporate affirmative measures Incorporate affirmative measures

into “punishment”into “punishment” Strive to change biased attitudesStrive to change biased attitudes Seek student input Seek student input

ANY ANY QUESTIONSQUESTIONS??

Documents

HATE CRIMES AT SCHOOLS