A bigger picture still comes from the FBI's 1996 hate crime statistics, the most recently available. Texas had a total of 439 hate crimes against persons in 1996, Massachusetts had 523, although some of this may be due to higher reporting rates in Massachusetts. . . . The statistics show that . . . The James Byrd murder . . . Did not occur in a vacuum.
Racial violence is still a component in our ongoing national tragedy.
With those thoughts, we conclude this editorial sampling of comment about a recent, apparently racially motivated, murder in east Texas. Copyright 1997 Mantra Corporation. All Rights Reserved. The information contained at this site may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, or stored without prior written authority of Mantra Corporation .