Urge California to Call Attacks on the Homeless What They Are — Hate Crimes

by Josie Raymond · 2010-05-08 06:00:00 UTC
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California is leading the nation in civil rights legislation once again. This week the state Assembly voted to add the homeless to the list of groups under hate crime protections.

Already Maryland and Maine, as well as Washington, D.C., have declared violence against the homeless to be hate crimes. If a state as large and influential as California would do so, advocates in other states would have an easier time pushing for the designation. (Similar action is underway in Florida, supported by a Republican Sheriff.)

Hate crime designation would increase the damages available for victims, which is meant to serve as a deterrent to attacks. Just as important would be the message to the homeless community that the U.S. justice system recognizes the plight of people living without reliable shelter.

There are an estimated 150,000 homeless individuals in California. (Knowing the historical inaccuracy of homeless counts and the faulty definition of "homeless," the number is likely much higher.)

Support for the bill, AB2706, was by no means unanimous. While the bill's author, Democratic Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal said, "My hope is that it shatters the sense of safety from consequences that these bullies seem to enjoy," opponents like Republican Assemblyman Anthony Adams ignorantly called homelessness a "lifestyle choice." Adams said, "We run the dangerous risk of turning everything into a hate crime."

Oh, Assemblyman Adams. This argument is as preposterous as the one used by those opposed to same-sex marriage. Let the gays get married and next up will be bestiality. Categorize attacks on the homeless as hate crimes and then brunette accountants over 6'0" will be calling for hate crime protection, too. It's not true and it minimizes the very real correlation between homelessness and attacks on homeless people.

Victims in the news in just the last couple weeks include a homeless man who was set on fire (but lived) while sleeping under a bridge in Virginia, a disabled homeless man who was beaten to death while living in the woods in South Carolina and a Michigan homeless man who lost an eye after he was randomly targeted and shot in the face with a paintball gun.

Who will argue that these people were targeted for any reason other than their homelessness? Violence against the homeless has been on the rise over the last decade. Until longterm measures to end homelessness are put in place, steps like better police protection are critical.

California's bill now goes to the state Senate for a vote. Tell California's Senate President pro Tem to join in the struggle to protect society's most vulnerable.

Photo credit: stevelyon

Josie Raymond is a Change.org editor who has reported from the streets of the South Bronx, written for several magazines that folded (not her fault) and fixed thousands of typos.

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