Are Hate-Crimes Laws Inherently Biased?
The Catholic League is making a very interesting observation: that hate-crime laws demonstrate a certain inherent bias. After reading their rationale, I think they may have a point. Yesterday, the New York Times ran a story about two 20-year-olds, and an 18-year-old, who were arrested for stealing statues of baby Jesus from nativity scenes over the past two years. They hit the New York-suburban communities of Suffern and Haverstraw several times in 2005 and 2006. The police said they will not charge them with committing hate crimes; each is being charged with 14 counts of petty larceny. Yesterday, WNBC.com reported that a 20-year-old was arrested for kicking a menorah in the New York suburban community of St. James. He is being charged with a hate crime and could face seven years in prison. He is being charged with a felony. Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented as follows: “This is so interesting. The reason the menorah is allowed in New York City public schools is because
