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anatomy of a hate crime
Every day, on average, 8 Blacks, 3 Gays, 3 Jews and 1 Latino become the victims of a blatant hate crime. A Ku Klux Klan cross is burned at least once every week.
These are some of the facts displayed on the “Fight For Your Rights” website set up and run by MTV as part of their year long campaign against hate crimes in collaboration with GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network).
The campaign was kicked off on January 10 with the first of several showings of a new film, “Anatomy of a Hate Crime”. The film, a re-enactment of the murder of 21 year old Matthew Shepard, was followed by 18 commercial-free hour session of various celebrities reading accounts of hate crimes from across the country. Since then other programs, such as interviews and round table discussions, with various civil rights, Gay & Lesbian and feminist activist have been aired in an attempt to raise awareness about the extent and severity of hate crimes in America.
Particular attention is being given to the discrimination suffered by Gays & Lesbians. In this regard the story of the murder of Matthew Shepard has been particularly effective. A 21 year old college student in Laramie, Wyoming, Shepard was murdered after he was picked up by two young men in a bar. He was driven out to a secluded field, where he was beaten nearly to death, tied and strung up on a barbed wire fence. He was discovered several days later, and died shortly afterwards in the hospital. This year marks the second anniversary of Matthew’s tragic death.
Following a showing of “Anatomy of a Hate Crime” in late January a post-movie wrap-up program featured activists from GLSEN and GLAD who provided some shocking statistics to highlight the fact that the Matthew Shepard story is not an isolated one. For example, they reported on a survey in which 60% of G/L/B/T youth reported they had been the victims of overt harassment. In this same survey 30% reported that they had witnessed or experience anti-gay acts or statements by teachers and staff while attending school.
It should also be said though, that while MTV’s campaign against hate is doing a lot to bring awareness of the specific effects of discrimination on individuals, where it is weak is pointing to the source of racism, sexism, homophobia and anti-Semitism. Rather than look at the true roots of such social ills, MTV and groups such as GLSEN suggest that ignorance is the main source of the problem. Youth for Socialist Action would say, that while of course such a factor does play a role in the committing of specific acts of discrimination, it is hardly the origin of racism and homophobia. Rather these are things that are created and perpetuated by the capitalist society we live in, a society that seeks to divide working people against one another, so as to prevent us from unifying to face our common oppressors. The lack of effective government defense of minorities is ample proof of this, that while some politicians and “leaders” may speak of unity and diversity, their actions betray them.
Those gains which we have won, such as civil rights legislation and affirmative action (gains that are being whittled away as we speak) are exactly that, gains that we won, in struggle, in opposition to the powers that be. And YSA believes that it is that course of action that we need to continue on if we are to build a world where story’s like Matthew Shepard’s are re-enacted only on film.
By Adam Ritscher
