In January of 2002, journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped. According to a Telegraph.co.uk article, several hours before his death, Daniel Pearl knew he was going to be killed. The article states Pearl was forced to say he was Jewish and to express sympathy for prisoners detained in Guantanamo Bay. In the Opinion Journal of the Wall Street Journal, a year after Daniel Pearl's murder, his father, Judea Pearl, wrote an article. In the article, he states anti-Semitism was a factor in Daniel's death and that the video of Daniel Pearl's execution has been used to recruit members for terrorist groups. In the article, communities were invited to hold interfaith remembrance services for Daniel.

This year, five years after Daniel Pearl was murdered, Paula Kirman, a Jewish lady living in Edmonton, Canada, commemorated Daniel's life in a personal video. In the video, she personalizes Daniel Pearl's last words, by making those words her words. The video can be seen at YouTube.Com. A video response to Paula Kirman's video by the Daniel Pearl's mother and father can also be seen at YouTube.Com. Mrs. Pearl comments that Daniel was proud to be Jewish. In the face of the Holocaust and hundreds of years of persecution, Paula Kirman, Mr. and Mrs. Pearl, and other Jewish people who recite Daniel Pearl's last words take pride in who they are and refuse to live as victims.

Persecuted minority groups can easily adopt the role of victims, feeling somehow inferior to other people in society. Having a sense of pride in one's heritage, in the important essence of one's identity is important and can give one courage in the face of prejudice and discrimination.

Additional information about Daniel Pearl's life can be found on the Rediff and Daniel Pearl Foundation web sites. News about Daniel Pearl's kidnapping and murder, and the trial of those accused of kidnapping and murdering Daniel Peter can be found on the Rediff web site. The Daniel Pearl Foundation, named in memory of Daniel Pearl, promotes cultural understanding through journalism, music, and innovative communication.

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Donald Green from Yale University shares interesting information about hate crimes on the American Psychological Association web site. Green reports on some studies about hate crimes. According to Green, fluctuations in the economy seem to have little to do with the rate of reported hate crimes. Green believes studies show that the rate of hate crimes increase when a fairly homogeneous region has people from different ethnic or racial groups migrating into the homogeneous region. An example Green gives in support of that position is the rate of hate crimes in what was East Germany after an increase in the migration of non-Germans seeking asylum to the region of Germany that was previously the country of East Germany. Green says there were thousands of anti-foreign attacks in 1993 and those attacks decreased in following years, even though the unemployment rate in the former East Germany region remained high. Donald Green gives other examples that support his conclusions. Green recommends that law enforcement officials and community leaders focus their resources on communities where there has been a rapid change in the population demographics. We encourage people who are interested in the causes of hate crimes to read the article on the American Psychological Association web site.

Donald Green's observations appear to make sense when it comes to hate crimes based on race, ethnicity, or religious affiliation. We are uncertain how much of the information Donald Green found regarding hate crimes could apply toward hate crimes against sexual minorities. Changing demographics is not likely a real factor in hate crimes against members of sexual minority groups. The rate of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-identified, and inter-sex people (GLBTI ) has not changed due to migration. What might be at play with hate crimes against the queer community is a perception of an increase in the number of queer people, because more GLBTI individuals are coming out of the closet and because of media attention that focused on the gay community during debates about same-sex marriages and unions.

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The Stop Hate 2000 web complex has a new editorial and a new documentary review this month. The documentary, Fish Can't Fly, is an important video for people to watch. The documentary is about ex-gay ministries and ex-gay counselling. The Stop Hate review can be read at www.stophate.us/review16.html.

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One of our volunteers found a news article on the Casper Star Tribune web site. According to the Associated Press article, a bill has been introduced to the Wyoming legislature that would make void same-gender marriages that were granted in other states. We are not certain the bill will receive enough support to pass. Even proposing laws that would revoke legal rights for minority groups is cause of genuine concern.

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A few of the news stories we have been following appear below:

• Jack Phoummarath, a University of Texas freshman, died after drinking large amounts of alcohol. His body was defaced with a number of anti-gay comments. A news article about Jack Phoummarath can be read on the Advocate web site. While this Jack Phoummarath's death does not appear to be a hate crime, there is reason for concern when anti-gay sentiments would be written on any student as part of a hazing ritual. Hazing should not involve acts that degrade either individuals or groups of people.

• Six people were injured in a Chicago shooting in a home known by some people in the area as the “gay house.” According to an Advocate article, two masked gunmen forced their way into the apartment and opened fire. The Chicago police feel this might be a hate crime.

Anybody with news about hate crimes or discrimination is welcome to email us.

Anybody with news about hate crimes or discrimination is welcome to email us.