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South Florida Hate-Crimes Total Rises, While Rest of State Declines
Letter to the Editor by Commissioner Dr. Donna Elam - Orlando, Florida
Letter to the Editor:
Response to: South Florida hate-crimes total rises, while rest of state declines
The 2008 Florida Attorney General’s Hate Crimes Report revealed disturbing information about hate crimes that must be addressed swiftly. For a third straight year, Broward County led the state in hate crimes and Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties tied for second. Though accounts of violence based on hate sends shivers down one’s spine; it is not surprising to learn of the increase in these crimes. As the winds of uncertainty and change currently sweep our nation, prejudice and discrimination are rampant. While we are encouraged by the recent passage of landmark federal hate crimes legislation, we must not sit idly by in hopes that things will improve. We must band together as a community and make it clear that South Florida will not be plagued by hate crimes. Law enforcement, schools, universities, advocacy, faith-based and othercommunity groups must come together to take a stand against hate. Such collective efforts have been successful in the past. We owe it to the young people, elderly and most vulnerable to do all that we can to stop these atrocities.
Dr. Donna Elam
Chairperson
Florida Commission on Human Relations
