When Hate Becomes a Crime

Hate crimes in the U.S. increased overall by 7% from 2021 to 2022. In the last three months of 2023 there was a 360% increase in antisemitic incidents. Every time one of these crimes is committed it creates tension and fear, and tears at the fabric of community life, which raises several questions: what qualifies as a hate crime? Similarly, why do hate crimes often go underreported? And ultimately, what steps should one take if one is a victim or witnesses a hate crime?
David Williams, Cook County State’s Attorney Special Investigations Bureau, Adjunct Professor of Criminology, Law and Justice at UIC, Co-Founder, Regional Antisemitism Taskforce, and IHMEC LEAD Training Facilitator, joined us to discuss case studies about hate crimes that have occurred in the Chicago area including the damage at the Loop Synagogue and vandalism on Devon Avenue.
This program is part of the Museum’s "Understanding & Confronting Anti-Jewish Hate" community series.