ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---Over the past 5 years, hate crimes have been on the rise in New York State. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently issued a report which said last year alone over 1,000 hate crimes were reported.
"What we saw is that now the trend is at the highest reported hate crimes in New York State since you had the mandatory reporting," explained DiNapoli.
Back in 2000, New York’s Hate Crimes Act was passed requiring data to be collected and reported. DiNapoli said the types of crimes are becoming a greater concern.
"When you look back a few years ago, it would more likely be a hate crime involving property—- vandalism, hurtful graffiti, that kind of thing. Now you are seeing a higher percentage that actually involved crimes against people, assaults."
While the report didn’t look at why there has been an increase in hate crimes, DiNapoli did share this.
"We can all have our own opinions as to why. The COVID experience created all kinds of challenges certainly during that period— a big spike in anti-Asian hate crimes. Some of that has abated now as COVID has somewhat diminished, but still higher than pre-pandemic levels. In terms of religious hate crimes, there’s a very high percentage directed at members of the Jewish community."
According to the report , between 2018-2023 hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers rose by 89%. For Muslim New Yorkers, it rose by 106%.
Scott Richman, Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League said after seeing the comptroller’s report, he was shocked but not surprised at the data.
"Of course, you have short term reasons like the Israel-Hamas War which has led to a real steep rise against the Jewish community, but the longer term factors are things like social media," explained Richman.
In an effort to prevent hate, Richman would like to see Governor Hochul sign the Social Media Transparency Bill into law.
"It forces social media companies to be transparent about the reports, the incidents of hate that they are receiving on their sites," said Richman.
