Call it by Its Name: A Hate Crime in Charleston

When crimes like this occur, I recall a panel I attended in law school where an attorney for a civil rights group concisely and eloquently described hate crimes and why people that push back against using that term are wrong. The general idea is that the crime, though aimed at one person(s), is committed with the intent to terrify a specific group of people. The offender(s) goals are to terrorize with the hopes that the group flees, changes, and/or submits. This seems like a simple idea, and yet people become so hesitant to call these crimes by their name.

What happened in Charleston was a hate crime. Any other lesser labeling is not sufficient. The hesitation to talk about this crime in its true form reminds me of the shootings in Isla Vista, California. There the killer left a manifesto describing his deep misogyny, and yet there were still people acting as if his intent wasn’t to punish and terrorize women. It’s ridiculous–call these crimes by their names.

I have come across many great pieces that I want to share for those that are looking to reflect on this issue.

• This wasn’t about rape.
• How Media portrays shooters depending on race.
• Racism isn’t mental illness.
• Why labeling the crime correctly matters.
• The history of Emmanuel AME Church.
• Global reaction to the massacre.
• A brief history on attacks on Black churches.
• Some ways to help the Charleston community.
• The importance (and need) for progressive criminal statutes.

Above all, remembering those that were taken:

• Learn about the Nine lives lost.