Hate Crimes Through 2024: Arkansas

Arkansas is one of only four states in the United States with no hate crime law. None. You can commit a bias-motivated crime in Arkansas — target someone because of their race, their religion, their sexual orientation — and face zero additional penalty under state law. And yet Arkansas still reports hate crime data to the FBI. Which means we have numbers. We have documented incidents. We have proof that bias-motivated crimes are happening. And we have a state that has decided — officially and legislatively — that those crimes do not deserve additional accountability. 48 hate crimes in 2021. 35 in 2022. 31 in 2023. A KKK chapter headquartered in Harrison. Christian Identity and white nationalist groups operating in the state. No federal case examples on the DOJ page. The absence of a law is itself a data point. Let's have this conversation.00:00 — Disclaimer01:54 — Introduction02:55 — Mission05:05 — Opening: Four states have no hate crime law — Arkansas is one of them, and that silence is a statement07:38 — Background: The national baseline, what no hate crime law actually means, and the KKK headquartered in Harrison13:12 — Data: 63.3% crimes against persons, Christian Identity groups, no federal prosecutions on record, and what the decreasing numbers are not telling you18:17 — Personal Truth: The absence of protection is itself a form of harm — it tells communities who is considered expendable21:23 — Close/Action Steps: Know which four states have no hate crime law — and ask why Arkansas decided its targeted communities don't deserve additional accountabilityDOJ Hate Crimes State Data — justice.gov/hatecrimes/state-data/arkansasFBI Crime Data Explorer — cde.ucr.cjis.govSPLC Hate Map — splcenter.orgEncyclopedia of Arkansas — encyclopediaofarkansas.netFollow the show wherever you get your podcasts.Goodpods Podcast🏆 #2 in the Top 100 Personal Journals Monthly chart🏆 #5 in the Top 100 Cult Monthly chart🏆 #7 in the Top 100 Business News Monthly chart🏆 #9 in the Top 100 Society & Culture Monthly chart🏆 #10 in the Top 100 International News Monthly chartArkansas hate crimes 2024, Arkansas no hate crime law, Arkansas hate crime statistics, KKK Harrison Arkansas, Thom Robb Knights KKK, white nationalist Arkansas, hate crime law states, Christian Identity Arkansas, Black Arkansans hate crimes, LGBTQ Arkansas hate crimes, hate crimes through 2024 series, Southern hate crime reporting, Afternoon Coffee Break Darren Watts,