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more frequently beginning in the fall, can make “We have seen an uptick in hate crimes. While
recommendations for legislation concerning hate there have been many reports against the Asian-
crimes, including items such as recommendations American community, at the same time there are
on restitution for victims, and additional alterna- high levels of hate crimes each year against Af-
tive sentencing programs for first-time offenders rican Americans,” Wilson said Thursday. “There
and young offenders. are also spikes against the Jewish community, as
And in an emailed statement, bar president Meyer- well as the LGBT community. Hate crimes have
son said: “We look forward to working collaboratively increased over the last five years after a long
with the governor’s office, legislature, judicial branch, downward trajectory of about 20 years since the
and our communities.” mid-1990s.”
Wilson, who is the associate Wilson sees several possible
dean for faculty development and reasons for the increase in hate
intellectual life and the Gladstein crimes, including “a more popu-
chair and professor of anthro- Gov. Ned Lamont list style of politics, an increase
pology and law, is the author in white nationalistic groups,
of numerous books, including announced Tuesday that and economic uncertainty.”
his latest work “Incitement on CBA President Amy Lin While it hasn’t been decided
Trial: Prosecuting International Meyerson and Judge what the advisory council will
Speech Crimes.” Trial Referee Douglas tackle first, Wilson said he’d like
Wilson said having attorneys Lavine will co-chair the to take a closer look at the sta-
and judges on the council is vi- 25-member Connecticut tistics.
tal to “have an accurate and deep Hate Crimes Advisory “I’m not sure the reporting of
understanding of the various Council. hate crimes in Connecticut and
laws and legislation in Connecti- nationally is the most accurate,”
cut that relate to hate crimes, and he said. “We report about 7,000
there are a number of them and to 8,000 hate crimes annually,
include things like threatening while England and Wales have
behavior.” about 80,000 annually. Are they
Wilson said he’s been studying the issue of hate 10 times more bias motivated than us? I doubt it.
speech for more than a decade and his book high- Our reporting needs to be stronger. We need more
lights “how countries have spiraled into ethnic resources and monitoring and better training of
and racial violence across the world. I have great law enforcement to what hate crimes are.” ■
concerns for our country.”
Wilson said the council is needed now more Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
than ever because hate crimes, most notably analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
against Asian Americans, have skyrocketed in the him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
United States. 203-437-5950.

Visit

ctlawtribune.com

PHONE: 860-757-6659

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