Incidents of hate have exploded in recent years. According to a report published by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, prejudice against race/ethnicity or national origin was the most widely reported bias motivation, representing 45.1% of the total, followed by bias against religious groups at 24.6% and sexual orientation at 19.7%. Gender identity hate crimes increased from 24 in 2022 to 42 in 2023. Significantly, anti-semitic hate crimes increased by 70% from 2022 to 2023. 

Here in Norfolk County, police in our 28 towns reported a total of 54 hate crimes involving race/ethnicity or national origin, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation. Brookline, Franklin and Quincy each reported more than 6 incidents; Brookline had the highest number, at 12. In one notable case, an offender threw a brick painted with the words, “Free Palestine” through the window of a kosher market in Brookline, invoking the terror of Kristallnacht.  And stickers and flyers promoting known white supremacist groups have popped up all over the county, suggesting a rise in identity-based hate in our community.

There are few crimes more egregious than terrorizing others because of who they are. As District Attorney, I will prioritize hate crimes and demonstrate the office’s commitment to address bias in our community by:

• Assigning an Assistant District Attorney and investigator to track and focus on prosecution of these cases and make referrals as appropriate to federal law enforcement

• Collaborating with community partners, including police, schools, faith-based groups and non-government agencies like Facing History and Ourselves, the Trevor Project and the Anti-Defamation League to present educational community programming to prevent and respond to hate crime

• Ensuring that the staff of the District Attorney’s office reflects the diversity of the community we serve, that staff receive annual anti-bias training, and that internal anti-bias policies are enforced