Hamilton: tops in hate crime
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hate-crime-statistics-canada-hamilton-1.5221663
WTF. The town that is ramping up to become Toronto's arts exurb is also the hate capital ....
"arts exurb" ? That's a new one! Lol
Yes, we're the goto for flight-from-Toronto-housing-prices. They seem to like it here. They've got lots of opportunities to rebuild communities that still suffer from the flight-to-the-suburbs, and automation layoffs at the steel mills from the '80's. Huge impact. Ongoing.
I've lived in the downtown core (includes the waterfront) for 23 years, and not seen much racism. (Saw worse once on Yonge St in T.) But I wouldn't be the target, wouldn't know.
We have some - ok a lot - ok you have to be - mischief-makers: I do think painting swastikas may often be more about hurting kids hurting others ... mischief-known-to-cause-drama. That did happen once nearby, and often on mosques and synagogues, once a Hindu Temple fire (thought they were Muslims).
I'd like to see the data on grafitti compared to verbal/physical assaults, etc. Too lazy to look today, though. Lol
I believe we currently have some problems in local politics and policing that may be contributing to a perception that expressions of hatred won't be consequated, that hate speech is protected as free speech.
Of course, we do also have a fairly large contingent of low income white people who see little reason to believe that the system privileges them - mischief makers. They'll claim 'white pride' sometimes, just to keep up with/
**** off their black/Muslim buddies. Lol
It's not the burbs down here.
But if you're straight with someone, they'll be straight with you. It's about who you prove yourself to be, not race, gender, etc.
I'll be curious to see whether the assaults on people at Pride Fest even get counted as hate crimes, since police Chief and Mayor are so adamant that it was all Pride's fault. (!!) The only one arrested is not even charged for a hate crime. But those are the worst hate crime assaults I've heard of in Hamilton.
There's some gang stuff, but mostly they cooperate to focus on profits, not racism. Street stuff ... there might be racist remarks sometimes, but somebody behaving badly can get called n***** even if he isn't black. Not an attack/ harassment because of race but because of bad behaviour, but not acceptable either as it's still derogatory to Black people. (Tried explaining that to my young street homies ... aaaaarrrrgh!)
Unless you count hate crimes by police ... letting a young Muslim man die on the sidewalk because they 'assumed' he was a perp, but he was a victim who was shot trying to stop the perps from robbing an elderly man. Not ok to denigrate him and let him bleed to death anyway.
Racial profiling is an issue ... cops doing "street checks" - ie harassing - a black City Councillor.
Police Services Board always backs and excuses police, doesn't even pretend to provide civilian 'oversight'.
But I doubt the cops counted those as hate crimes by cop.
I think we have some biases at high levels ... and I think that attitude is filtering down.
I mean, ffs, the Mayor wouldn't talk seriously to the Pride Fest ctte about their concerns before Pride Fest. So the ctte said they didn't want the Pride flag-raising ceremony until he did address their concerns. He just put it up anyway.
(After the violent hate attacks at Pride Fest, some "bionic lesbians" and others climbed City Hall and took back the Pride flag that they had gifted to the city. Lol )
Police say the rate of
reporting hate crimes is increasing because of the community outreach work they've been doing. Good so far ...
But ... I can't wait to hear the Police community spiel about reporting hate crimes against Trans people. <slight sarcasm>
To end on a lighter note ... in the north end, the Irish kids steal tomatoes from the Italians' gardens, and throw them at doors/windows. Quite disconcerting when I moved in. Police explained it to me.
Lol