Starting Wednesday, those who commit acts of violence
against others based on their religion, race, disability, or
sexual orientation will face more time in prison. Hawaii joins
a majority of states in enacting a hate crime law.
Civil rights groups say this law is essential, but it's
hard to determine the prevalence of hate crimes in Hawaii
because we don't track those kinds of statistics. The new law
will change that, by prompting police to compile stats on
hate crimes and analyzing the numbers.
With the stroke of a pen, the state is putting a specific
breed of criminals on notice.
"For those who select victims on the basis of
hatred for any particular race, religion, disability, sexual
orientation, ethnicity or national origin," says
Lieutenant Governor Mazie Hirono.
Those who target these individuals based on hate, will now
face stiffer sentences - a doubling in most cases, and life in
prison in others. The new law is ten years in the making.
"We have all taken a major step forward in ensuring
ours is a free and equal society. And that we are committed to
having a safe community for all," says Harry Yee of
the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.
"Not every crime is a hate crime. They're motivated
by bigotry and they're aimed at a threatened or minority
class," says Holly Huber of Civil Unions-Civil
Rights.
Huber says hate crimes are acts of terrorism.
Arguably the most glaring display of hate in this state,
was seen when grave markers at Punchbowl were spray painted
with obscene remarks, four years ago. Until this day, no one
has been arrested for the vandalism.
More recently, a group of gay campers on Kauai had to
defend themselves against two teens accused of targeting the
men because of their sexual orientation.
Martin Rice was there that Memorial Day weekend. His family
has been in the islands for three generations and have
embraced life here.
"The values of tolerance, the values of aloha
spirit, the values of acceptance, not all our new residents
share that same upbringing," says Rice.
The new law cannot be applied to crimes already committed.
