Hate Crimes & Violence Against Homeless People
1. Data from news reports and homeless shelters on the number of homeless victimizations that have occurred in the past five years (1999-2003): •The total number of reported violent acts over 5 years was 281
•The total number of reported deaths over 5 years was 131
•The total number of reported non-lethal attacks over 5 years was 150
•The total number of cities where crimes occurred was 119
•The total number of states, plus Puerto Rico, where crimes occurred was 38
•The age ranges of the accused/convicted was From 11 to 65 yrs
•The age range of the victims was From 4 months old to 74 yrs.
•The gender of Victims was 229 males and 34 females
The 2003 hate crimes report documented 61 non-lethal attacks and 9 deaths committed against people experiencing homelessness. These crimes occurred in 36 cities and 22 states and Puerto Rico.
2. Video Exploitation of Homeless Men and Women
There is also a disturbing trend of “Bum Videos” since 2001, in which homeless people are coerced to perform degrading and dangerous stunts for money, alcohol or food. Five different videos have been produced in the past four years.
In some of the more severe video scenes: • A homeless man drinks urine he perceives is a beer.
• A homeless man with drug addiction problems sets his hair on fire.
• A homeless man is offered a quarter to drink Windex.
He takes a gulp of the bottle for 1 dollar. He is shown vomiting shortly afterwards.
Recently major corporate retailers have found it acceptable to sells these videos. The National Coalition for the Homeless has asked them to stop selling the videos and turn over the profits.
As of June 10, 2004 the retail corporations have responded to NCH’s request accordingly:
a. Amazon.com, Target, Virgin Mega Stores, Barnes and Noble and Blockbuster.com havestopped selling the videos.
b. Best Buy still sells “Bum Hunts”.
c. Tower Records still sells “Bum Fights 2” and “Bum Hunts”.
d. Borders still sells “Bum Fights 1 & 2”, “Bum Hunts” and “Bum Show.com”.
e. FYE Entertainment still sells “Bum Hunts” and “Bum Show.com”.
3. Request for a General Accounting Office Investigation U.S. Representative John Conyers (D-MI) is calling on a General Accounting Office (GAO) investigation to assist Congress and the public in obtaining much-needed information on the extent and scope of violent acts and crimes against people experiencing homelessness. The study would examine perpetrators’ behavior, prevention, education and law enforcement strategies. Furthermore, such an investigation would help federal, state, and local officials identify actions that could be taken to prevent and reduce such crimes.
Cities where hate crimes/violence occurred in 2003:
Apopka, FL--1 incident.
Atlanta, GA--3 separate incidents resulting in 4 non-lethal acts.
Austin, TX--1 incident resulting in 6 non-lethal acts.
Bernalillo, NM—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Buena Park, CA—1 incident resulting in 1 death.
Chicago, IL—10 separate incidents resulting in 10 non-lethal acts.
Clay, WV—1 incident resulting in 1 death.
Cleveland, OH—7 separate incidents resulting in 7 non-lethal acts.
Colton, CA—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts.
Columbia, SC—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Dallas, TX—3 separate incidents resulting in 3 non-lethal acts.
Ewing, NJ—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Fort Lauderdale, FL—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Key West, FL—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Lancaster, PA—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Little Rock, AR—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Los Angeles, CA—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Manchester, NH—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Medford, OR—3 separate incidents resulting in 3 non-lethal acts.
Melbourne, FL--1 incident resulting in 1 death & 2 non-lethal acts.
Minneapolis, MN—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Nashville, TN—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
New York, NY—1 incident resulting in 1 death.
Oceanside, CA—2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts.
Phoenix, AZ—1 incident resulting in 1 death.
Portland, ME—5 separate incidents resulting in 3 non-lethal acts.
Raleigh, NC—1 incident resulting in 1 death.
Reno, NV—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Riverside, CA—1 incident resulting in 1 death.
San Francisco, CA—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
San Juan, PR—2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts.
Sarasota, FL—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Seattle, WA—1 incident resulting in 1 death and 1 non-lethal act.
Syracuse, NY—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
Tacoma, WA—1 incident resulting in 1 death.
Vancouver, WA—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act.
The mission of "News from our Shoes" is to educate by breaking down stereotypes about homelessness, hunger and poverty.
OUR GOALS:To be a voice in the empowerment movement on a local front. To be a forum for the voiceless. To create economic and self-help opportunities. To help build productive, responsible citizens.
*News From Our Shoesis a subsidiary of the Wake Housing-Homeless Coalition, a 501c3 non-profit organization, therefore, all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
EDITORIAL POLICY: Articles, poems, editorials, cartoons and other features appearing on these pages reflect the opinions of their individual creators. We encourage the submission of work that advances the understanding of homelessness, hunger or poverty. NFOS editors reserve the right to edit submissions for length and style. NFOS will refuse materials that are libelous or condone racism, sexism, prejudice, hatred or violence. To submit work, find the editors' email address under the About Us section.
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