Find a current event regarding a hate crime. Discuss what happened, the reason the victim was targeted
(race? sexual orientation? disability), and the outcome of the incident. Regardless of whether or not the
offender was caught, how should this person be punished?
Now, imagine that the offender and the victim shared the same characteristic (race, sexual orientation,
disability, ect.) and the crime was not considered a hate crime. Should the offender be punished any less?
More generally, why do you think that hate crimes are punished more severely than non-hate crimes?
Discuss why you agree or disagree.
(Preferably from the New York times)