Types of Violence: Hate Crimes

Hate crimes are criminal acts that are committed against a person or group because of a certain aspect about them. The reason can be their race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, age, or gender. A person is selected because of a characteristic that he or she can't change.


Hate crimes appear to have more serious psychological affects on the victims and communities than do other crimes. People suffer greater emotional traumas because the hate crimes target certain aspects of their identity. It sends a message that certain groups are not welcome and are unsafe in a particular community.

Contributed by NB, age 17

Crime Rate

In 2006, the crime rate in the city of Albany, NY was higher than the national average (per 100,000 people) for rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, and larceny/theft. The only crime types for which Albany had a lower crime rate than the national average were murders and motor vehicle thefts.

Statistics from areaconnect.com

Equinox

Equinox was founded in 1969. It began as a volunteer organization. The first program was a 24-hour crisis intervention center that linked people in need with existing community resources. Current services include residential programs for homeless youth and victims of domestic violence, counseling services, advocacy, and outreach. Today, Equinox works to help individuals and families who might otherwise not receive services.


Contact Information:


95 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
Phone: (518)434-6135


Domestic Violence Hotline: (518)432-7865


Equinox House for Youth: (518)465-9524


http://www.equinoxinc.org/


Contributed by RT, age 16

Thoughts: on bullying

I think bullying is cruel and there should be a punishment. People shouldn't be putting other people down. It shows that the person doing the bullying is insecure about themselves. Bullying is the cause of many youth committing suicide or committing crimes.

I was bullied from Pre-K to 6th grade. It drove me crazy. I hated being bullied. I hated the people who bullied me. I had few or no friends. I got into fights. I was always kicked out of class. I was called the bully when it was the other person who was bullying me. No one understood me. I got made fun of by my sisters when I went home and was made fun of by my classmates at school. I learned that people took my kindness for granted. So I learned to not be sharing my friendship with those who didn't earn it. But today, I thank God for all he put me through because it made me the person I am today.

Contributed by SA, age 16

Thoughts: on Peace

To me, peace means mutual respect, no drama, and no fights. But I believe it's hard to have peace when you have careless people in the world and in our community who may think that they have nothing to live for and then may want to make things harder for others. But I feel like we can make peace a main goal, starting by decreasing the violence in our community.

Contributed by AC, age 16

Thoughts: on necessity

Violence to me is irrelevant and unnecessary. The problem is not only about guns, knives, and weapons, or even general gang violence. The problem can also be in domestic violence, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

I honestly think violence breaks out and mainly happens because of jealousy and competition. It isn't always the fault of the person committing the crime because honestly, a lot of the anger that leads to violence comes from the individual's background. Bad surroundings can break and hurt a person inside and cause them to react and act out the way they do. This leads to gang and street violence as well as domestic violence. Instead of thinking as a group, I say people should try to be their own individual.

Me personally, I could have been the victim or instigator of a violent situation. I would always get told that violence is not the answer, but I never really paid attention. I never realized until now that when you have so much to lose and so little time to live your life that violence and the consequences that you will eventually have to face are not worth it. It doesn't make any sense. I believe we should stop the violence and make peace because it isn't worth it.

Domestic violence: It is never okay to hit a boy, girl, man, woman, baby, or anyone. Domestic violence shouldn't happen to anyone, ever. But it does - and when it does it is important that people seek help.


Contributed by QC, age 14

Thoughts: on Violence

To me, violence is stupid and not necessary. A lot of people witness the violence, but they choose to not tell the police or they just sit back and watch. Kids are the main ones that the community has to be careful around because as kids watch what goes on in the streets, they begin to think it's okay and they may grow up and do the same thing.


Violence takes a toll on everyone in the community. It affects a lot of people, especially by taking a lot of lives away. We need to come together as a community and stop the violence. Nothing is worth going to jail and taking someone's life.

Contributed by ZI, age 16

Poetry: Love Hurts

Journal Entry: Love Hurts

My heart beats like a drum
Yes, I tried, but I can’t run
Cuz I got caught in his trap
Oh, yes he wants me back
But it’s enough of him, I had
I was the one he grabbed
If I had the chance to rewind time back again 
I would never chose him to be my man
Cuz now he won’t leave me alone
I got over 100 messages on my cell phone
Repeating myself again
Cuz I keep telling him we should just be friends
Now I wonder
Will I be stuck here like this to the end?
Now he gots the nerve to call me honey
And spending all his money (on me)
Did he forget he bust my lip
But he made a promise that he wouldn’t do it again
So here I am thinking about my future
And the only thing I see is him beating me all over again
Now tell me would this love nightmare end
It’s like him stabbing me in my heart all over again
Crying as the blood rushes from my heart
I knew I should have left him when he first abused me from the start  
Now here hurting in pain
Wishing this thing I feel will go away
I blacked out and these people take me away
Now I ask God will I see another day
Your Friend,
Maya 

Contributed by SA, age 16

Reading of Hersey's "Hiroshima"

On the 66^th anniversary of the use of the atomic bomb, there will be a reading of “Hiroshima” by John Hersey. The book follows the aftermath of the bomb as it affects six survivors and was written after Hersey spent 3 weeks doing research and interviews in Japan. The book was first published in The New Yorker, which dedicated a whole issue to printing Hersey’s narrative. The reading will be from 11 am-3 pm in Townsend Park, located on the corner of

Henry Johnson Boulevard

and

Central Ave.

Taken from the Capital District Peace Calender with information regarding John Hersey from Wikipedia.

Thoughts: Domestic Violence

I think domestic violence (also known as dating violence) is a cruel crime and is the cause of many deaths in America. One of the most common causes of domestic violence is when a man or woman feels like they have to be in control of their relationship. There are many forms of domestic violence, including physical, emotional, mental, and verbal abuse. The most common form of abuse that people are aware of is physical abuse. I personally think mental abuse is the worst because it causes the person to have low self-esteem and sometimes leads to them hurting themselves or others. It may take a few weeks to heal from physical abuse but it can take years or longer to heal from mental abuse. I feel like the cause of domestic violence is when one partner is insecure about themselves, so that every little thing that their partner does makes them think that their partner is going to leave them. Or they don’t know how to manage their anger or know how to love others partner properly. They are afraid that their partner is going to leave them. What they don’t know is that their outburst is going to eventually lend to the partner getting hurt or leaving them, and they can’t blame anyone but themselves.

Contributed by SA, age 16

Weekly Peace Vigil

A weekly vigil for peace meets every Wednesday in front of the State Capitol Building from 12:15-1:00 pm.

As said by the organizer: "The vigil opposes the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; urges dialog, not war, with Iran; supports human rights and international cooperation."

Taken from the Activist Resource Calender of Activist Events. For other social justice and peace events in the Capital Region, see the full calender.

Thoughts: on violence in the community

Where is most of the violence occurring?  The violence in Albany is mostly happening in poor communities that are not properly represented or fairly helped. Many feel as though their city has neglected them and have acted out outrageously. This is not justified, but very understandable.

Violence can increase due to jealously, competition, anger, insecurity, and entitlement issues among other reasons. Usually, violence occurs in an individual’s home due to broken families before it is taken out on anyone else. Individuals of the homes, both children and adults, then begin to release their frustration and anger on others and this is how violence spreads.

Violence in Albany is an everyday thing, just like in any other city. It affects the communities of Albany and the citizens should step up and make a change for themselves. Violence mostly occurs in communities that are less fortunate and do not feel support is coming from their city. Now this can be true, but they must make a change. To continue violence will absolutely not solve the problem, but only increase it.

Contributed by ZI, age 16