Jacobs and Potter also argue convincingly that the development of hate-crime legislation arises from the identity politics movements which have gained strength since the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Essentially, according to their line of reasoning, claims of the existence of a hate-crime epidemic and laws punishing hate crimes serve two purposes. One, they allow minorities to express outrage at the way they are being treated by society. Two, they allow nonminorities to act as if they understand minorities' pain and reaffirm the uncontroversial belief that prejudice and bigotry are wrong. Hate-crime laws may even, they warn, exacerbate perceived differences rather than create harmony.
Crime is also wrong.
But Jacobs and Potter make a convincing argument against considering crime tinged with bigotry worse than unadulterated crime. Anti-Defamation League ADL is America's prime resource for information on organized bigotry. The League collects and assesses a vast amount of information on anti-Semites, racists and extremists. After carefully evaluating information, ADL disseminates that information through books, periodicals, videos, reports and other materials. The League also monitors haters in cyberspace.