Washington second only to California in hate crimes reported in 2017
In 2017, Washington ranked No. 2 for the most reported hate-motivated crimes, coming in behind California, according to data released Tuesday by the FBI.
Washington law enforcement agencies reported 613 hate-motivated offenses to the FBI last year. The state saw a 32 percent increase in bias-motivated criminal incidents compared with a 17 percent increase nationally, according to the data.
In Washington, hate crimes are charged as malicious harassment, a class C felony. Examples, if evidence of bias is proven, include assault, vandalism and threats.
Washington reported one murder/non-negligent manslaughter, one rape, 72 aggravated assaults, 134 simple assaults and 183 incidents of intimidation motivated by hate or bias, according to the data.
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik previously told The Columbian that local law enforcement referred four cases for malicious harassment in 2017, and the prosecutor’s office filed charges in two cases. In comparison, six cases were referred in 2016 with charges filed in four of them, and three cases had been referred as of August with charges filed in one of them.
Golik and Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins issued a joint statement in August denouncing hatred and bigotry in the community. The statement was prompted by an uptick in polarization, hate speech and hate crimes at the national and local levels.
Two local incidents earlier this year drew concern from Clark County residents.
There was an altercation in May outside Vancouver Mall involving a member of the far-right fraternal organization Proud Boys — known for its white-nationalist rhetoric — and an African-American teenager. Then, in July, the sheriff’s office fired a deputy photographed wearing, and who apparently merchandises, apparel affiliated with the Proud Boys.
— Jessica Prokop