Arlington Sees Spike In Hate Crimes: FBI Data

ARLINGTON, MA – New data released by the FBI Tuesday shows hate crimes are on the upswing in Arlington. Last year the town saw 14 reported hate crimes, the second-highest number in the state among communities that reported numbers.

Two of those were motivated by the victim's race, ethnicity or ancestry, seven by religion, one by sexual orientation, one by disability and three by gender identity, according to the FBI. Data going back a few years shows 11 reported hate crimes in 2016 and five in 2015 and 2014.

High-profile hate incidents in Arlington over the past couple years include anti-gay and anti-Semitic vandalism at Arlington High School; swastikas at Ottoson Middle School; and the slashing of a "Black Lives Matter" banner.

Behind Arlington, Salem had 13 reported hate crimes, Newton 12, Quincy 11 and Cambridge and Somerville 10 each. Massachusetts saw a 9 percent increase in hate crimes in 2017 over the year before.

See also: MA Hate Crimes Increase As U.S. Numbers Skyrocket: FBI Data

The statewide spike in hate crimes paled in comparison to the nationwide increase of 17 percent. There were 7,175 such incidents reported in America in 2017, more than 1,000 more than in 2016.

The FBI said nearly 60 percent of last year's nationally reported hate crimes related to race, ethnicity, or ancestry. Of those, almost half were victims of crimes motivated by anti-black or African-American bias.

Roughly 20 percent of the reported hate crimes were based on religion, including a 37 percent spike in anti-Jewish offenses.

"The FBI data confirms that hate and bias have become part of daily life in America," Robert Trestan, New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in statement.

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