- *Hate crimes:* The latest FBI data shows that the number of hate crimes reported to law enforcement in the United States increased by 7% in 2020, compared to 2019. This is the highest number of hate crimes reported since 2016.
- *Race and ethnicity:* The largest number of hate crimes in 2020 were motivated by race and ethnicity, with Black people being the most frequent target. In 2020, there were 17,803 single-bias hate crimes motivated by race/ethnicity/ancestry, of which 62.5% were anti-Black. Black people were also the primary victims of hate crimes motivated by sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.
- *Religion:* The second-most common motivation for hate crimes in 2020 was religion, with Jewish people being the most frequent target. There were 1,364 single-bias hate crimes motivated by religion in 2020, of which 68.7% were anti-Jewish.
- *Geography:* The states that had the highest rates of hate crimes in 2020 were New Mexico (1.40 hate crimes per 100,000 people), California (1.18 per 100,000), and Illinois (1.09 per 100,000). The cities that had the highest number of hate crimes in 2020 were New York City (359), Los Angeles (298), and Chicago (279).
What the latest FBI data do not tell us about hate crimes in the US
- *Underreporting:* The FBI's hate crime statistics are based on data that is voluntarily reported to law enforcement by local and state agencies. This means that the actual number of hate crimes that occur in the US is likely to be higher than the number that is reported.
- *Classification:* The FBI's definition of hate crimes is narrow and does not include all acts of violence or discrimination that are motivated by bias. For example, the FBI does not count crimes that are motivated by political or ideological bias, or crimes that are committed against people who are not members of a protected class.
- *Severity:* The FBI's data does not provide information about the severity of hate crimes. This means that it is not possible to say how many hate crimes result in injury or death.
- *Impact:* The FBI's data does not provide information about the impact of hate crimes on victims and their communities. This means that it is not possible to say how hate crimes affect people's physical and mental health, their ability to live their lives freely, or their sense of belonging in the community.
