Data: Federal Bureau of Investigation; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios
Hate crimes in Arkansas rose in 2020 to their highest level since 2012, according to new Subscribe for free
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Hate crimes across the U.S. are soaring to their highest levels in 12 years — and the spike is primarily due to assaults on Black people and Asian Americans.
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The total number of hate crimes nationwide in 2020 increased to 7,759.
By the numbers: The statewide total of 50 incidents reported in 2020 was a 257% increase over the 14 reported incidents in 2019. Sixty-four incidents were reported a decade earlier and only six in 2015, the lowest in the 10-year period.
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Hate crimes against Black communities were the most frequently reported in Arkansas over the past decade. There were 21 in 2010 (32% of the total) and 11 in 2020 (22% of the total).
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There were 274 hate crimes against Asian communities reported across the U.S. in 2020. From 2010 to 2020, Arkansas had seven reported crimes that targeted Asian people; one was in 2020.
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Ten of the reported hate crimes in 2020 targeted gay, lesbian, gender-nonconforming, and transgender people.
Yes, but: Experts warn the data are flawed because the FBI relies on information reported by 18,000 law enforcement agencies to compile its Uniform Crime Report.
Of note: Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a hate crimes bill earlier this year that requires offenders to serve 80% of their sentence for serious violent felonies committed against someone related to their mental, physical, biological, cultural, political or religious beliefs.
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Before that, Arkansas was one of just three states without a hate crimes law.
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The law has been criticized for omitting race, sexual orientation or gender identity as categories.
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