Street Spirit February 2006

Society Must Act to Stop Hate Crimes

by the National Coalition for the Homeless

In recent days, the media has immersed American viewers in the brutal reality and the vulnerability associated with living on the streets. On the early morning of Thursday, January 12, 2006, two teenage boys were caught on surveillance video viciously attacking a defenseless homeless man while he was sleeping in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Though the man survived, a few hours later the teens, along with a third accomplice not caught on tape, struck again, this time succeeding in killing a different homeless man. The teens, after fatally beating the second homeless man, went on to a final attack, critically injuring a third man who was also sleeping on the streets.

Fortunately, in the second case, two of the teens were caught on film, demonstrating substantial evidence about the plague of hate crimes and violence against those who live on the streets.

In this instance, the perpetrators were caught on film. Hidden from most Americans, however, is the number of shocking crimes committed nationwide against people experiencing homelessness each year. Homeless men, women, and children around the nation are particularly vulnerable to crimes because they represent an easy, visible, susceptible target and often lack a place to retreat for safety and protection.

Across the nation, people experiencing homelessness, advocates, and service providers report an alarming epidemic of hate crimes and violent murders, arson, harassment, and damage of personal property. Thrill seekers, primarily in their teens and early twenties, are the most common perpetrators of the violence.

This trend has been exacerbated by the proliferation of "Bum Videos" in which homeless people are coerced to perform degrading and dangerous beatings and stunts for money, alcohol, or food.

There is so much that we, along with the Florida Legislature and U.S. Congress, can do to protect one of the most vulnerable populations in our society. It is time for legislation to be introduced in both the Florida Legislature and the U.S. Congress adding homelessness to existing hate crimes statutes. Until such legislation is passed, we strongly propose that law enforcement agencies keep track of hate crimes and violence against people experiencing homelessness.

Along with this important first action, there also needs to be adequate numbers of beds in the shelters and an increase in outreach efforts. We need good citizens and Samaritans out on the streets to be watchful when homeless people are attacked, along with providing help. This will hopefully serve as a deterrent for young people who might be considering copycat attacks. By doing so, those living on the streets may be rescued from becoming victims of hate-crime violence.

Not only should law enforcement be encouraged to handle this cause, but also those experiencing homelessness themselves could begin participating in a crime prevention patrol which would involve the homeless population in preserving their own well-being. Outfitting these patrollers with safety alert devices would allow efficient contact to emergency agencies, such as fire and ambulance companies. Homeless service providers should offer self-defense classes, like those that provide self-defense for women, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations.

Our best recommendation would be for schools to invite homeless advocates and homeless people to make class presentations. These speakers would share their personal stories and answer questions from the students, breaking down stereotypes, prejudices, and revealing the humanity of homeless people.

The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) operates the "Faces of Homelessness" Speakers' Bureau, making nearly 300 presentations a year, reaching a combined audience of 17,000 people, primarily high school students. This is our most important public education strategy.

We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and acquaintances of the most recent victims of hate crimes and violence against people experiencing homelessness, as well as everyone else living on the streets that falls victim to such outrageous violent attacks.

Since 1999, the NCH, the oldest and largest national homeless advocacy group, has spearheaded an investigative analysis of hate crimes/violence against people experiencing homelessness, much like the Fort Lauderdale attack. What happened in Fort Lauderdale is typical of what is happening across the nation.

To read about incidences around the country, please read our 2004 hate crimes/violence report, entitled "Hate, Violence and Death on Main Street USA, 2004." This can be found on our website under "Civil Rights." The report for 2005 will be released in the coming weeks.

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