Preventing hate: What needs to be done to reduce hate crimes in Maine Share Updated: 6:40 PM EDT May 13, 2021 Share Updated: 6:40 PM EDT May 13, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript HIRSCHKORN LOOKS AT HOW EXPERTS THINK HATE CRIMES MIGHT BE CURTAILED. ((ááFINAL AS EDITD FOR TVáá)) (SOT GEORGE SHALER, SR. RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, U-S-M'S CUTLER INST., 19:58:31) "YOU LOOK AT RACE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND RELIGION." (VO 1: TWO SHOT) U-S-M RESEARCHER GEORGE SHALER STUDIES MAINE HATE CRIMES. (SOT GEORGE SHALER, 20:08:16) "THEY'RE MEANT TO INTIMIDATE AND THREATEN PEOPLE." (VO 2: LEWISTON MOSQUE, HEADLINES) A NOTORIOUS INCIDENT, IN 2006- WHEN A WHITE MAN ROLLED A PIG'S HEAD INTO A LEWISTON MOSQUE TO INTIMIDATE IMMIGRANTS FROM SOMALIA--MUSLIMS, WHO DON'T EAT PORK. (SOMALI IMMIGRANT FILE) THREE-QUARTERS OF MAINE'S RACE- BIAS INCIDENTS AFFECT AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND SHALER BELIEVES BETTER REPORTING OF INCIDENTS COULD HELP PREVENT THEM. (SOT GEORGE SHALER, 19:54:36) "IT ALSO REQUIRES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT BE WELL TRAINED IN HOW TO PINPOINT THESE KINDS OF CRIMES AND RESPOND TO THEM." (SOT LEANNE ROBBIN, MAINE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, 20:29:29) "MAYBE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS OR OTHER FEARS ARE NOT COMING FORWARD." (VO 3: TWO SHOT...LIST OF HATE CRIME CIVIL ORDERS SINCE 2010) MAINE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL LEANNE ROBBIN LEADS STATE PROSECUTIONS OF HATE CRIMES. SHE SAYS HER KEY PREVENTION TOOL IS ISSUING A INJUNCTION BARRING PERPETRATORS FROM CONTACT WITH VICTIMS. HER OFFICE HAS ISSUED 300 SINCE THE 1990'S. (SOT LEANNE ROBBIN, 20:25:55) "THERE SEEM TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO ACT ON BIAS AGAINST OTHERS, AND THEY SEEM TO CRAWL OUT FROM UNDER THEIR ROCKS EVERY SO OFTEN, AND WE SHINE THE LIGHT ON THEM." (VO 4: RUMFORD BROLL, FARRAR INCIDENT FB POST) LIKE THE TWO WHITE BROTHERS FROM RUMFORD, ERIC AND KYLE FARRAR, WHO STALKED AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN TO HIS HOME, IN 2017. A FACEBOOK POST OF THEIRS LATER SHOWED HOW THE VICTIM WENT INSIDE AND CAME BACK OUT WITH A GUN. THE BROTHERS SHOUTED RACIAL SLURS AND "GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY," WARNING...THEY HAD GUNS TOO. (PAN AG COURT DOCUMENT) ONE BROTHER... ULTIMATELY CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL THREATENING AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. THE A- G'S OFFICE LEVIED A CIVIL INJUNCTION ON BOTH. (SOT LEANNE ROBBIN, 20:26:06) "TO DETER THESE PEOPLE FROM ENGAGING IN THE CONDUCT IN THE FUTURE." (VO 5: JAIL INTERIOR FILE) BUT SHALER CONTENDS THE MAXIMUM PUNISHMENT UNDER STATE LAW-- -ONE YEAR IN JAIL AND $2000 FINE-- ISN'T ENOUGH OF A DETERRENT. (SOT GEORGE SHALER, 20:14:25) "ONE OF THE PUBLIC POLICY OPTIONS IS STRONGER PENALTIES, RIGHT? I MEAN PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS STUFF." (VO 6: TRUMP- PENCE CAMPAIGN 2020-WMTW FOOTAGE) ROBBIN SAYS SPIKES IN BIAS- MOTIVATED CONDUCT OCCUR DURING ELECTION SEASONS. (SOT LEANNE ROBBIN, 20:26:51) "CASES THAT SEEM TO REFLECT THE RHETORIC THAT'S BEING SPOKEN BY SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A HIGH PROFILE." (NATSOT TRUMP IN LONDONDERRY, NH 10/25/20, APX. 25:10) "WE GOT HIT BY THE CHINA PLAGUE, AND WE'LL NEVER FORGET IT." (NATSOT PENCE, 10/19 IN HERMAN, MAINE APX. 32:00) "THE CORONAVIRUS STRUCK OUR NATION FROM CHINA." (VO 7: ZOOM TWO SHOT, CORONAVIRUS) BRIAN LEVIN, WHO DIRECTS THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF HATE & EXTREMISM AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN BERNARDINO, POINTS TO THE DEMONIZING OF CHINA AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. (SOT BRIAN LEVIN, DIR., CSUSB CTR. FOR STUDY OF HATE & EXTREMISM, 6:58) "POLITICAL LEADERS DON'T NECESSARILY START THE INVECTIVE, BUT THEY OFTEN HELP EITHER FAN IT OR HELP FINISH IT. THEY'RE EITHER A FIREHOUSE OR A GASOLINE CAN." (VO 8: GFX) HIS STUDIES SHOWED A 146% INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS IN 2020 AND A 169% INCREASE SO FAR THIS YEAR IN 15 OF THE NATION'S LARGEST CITIES, INCLUDING BOSTON. (SOT BRIAN LEVIN, 8:34) "IT'S MY CONTENTION THAT STATEMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT HELPED FUEL AN EXISTING SET OF PREJUDICES THAT EXISTED IN THE ETHER OF SOCIETY." (STANDUP CLOSE) LEVIN RECOMMENDS MAINE FORM A HATE CRIME COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH MODEL POLICIES, DATA COLLECTION, OUTREACH, AND COORDINATION OF RESPONSES BY LAW ENFORCEMENT A