The Rise in Hate Crimes After the Election

A recent and rather disturbing trend has sprung up the New York area since the election of Barack Obama last week. Three major instances of hate crimes have sprung up, with direct ties to the selection of Obama. Two occurred on Staten Island and one occurred on Long Island. In the incident on Long Island as well as one of the incidents on Staten Island vandals spray painted swastikas, anti-Obama messages as well as racist commentary on signs, cars and property. In the Staten Island case the vandals referenced murdering Obama. As a result the State Department, Secret Service as well as the Department Of Justice has been called in.

The second case on Staten Island is even more disturbing. On the evening of the election, an 18 year old black male allegedly was assaulted by four white men who shouted out Obama's name as they beat him with a baseball bat. The injuries were severe enough to require staples to close a head wound as well as crutches for an injured leg. The sheer violence of this case is shocking.

In Georgia it is being reported that American and confederate flags have been flying at half-staff since the election of Obama. This is a clear sign that many see America as dying as a result of his presidency. And the most shocking thing of all is that gun shops have seen a dramatic increase in gun sales, according to CNN. Some owners have said that they haven't seen sales of this magnitude since 9/11/01. While I believe that there are clear reasons for these sales, such as the belief that gun laws may be tightened under the Obama administration, I also believe that some hateful reasoning is behind the increase in sales.

I admit that I am not surprised that hate crimes are up. I am a cynic in this regard. While on one hand I am proud that Americans have come together to elect the first black president, on the other hand it is easy to see how the ugly seeds of racism that has affected this country for so long can show its ugly head in very visceral terms. And by no means are these cases isolated. There have been many cases reported in the past week, across America, that have shocked many. I am hoping that the people who have committed crimes of this nature see the full wrath of justice. But there needs to be a larger dialogue on race and equality in America for these events not to continue as we usher in a new level of "hopeful equality" in the new administration.