1999 Annual Report

Hate Crimes

 “Hate Crime” is the common term for federal and state Civil Rights Violations. Hate crimes include any crimes principally motivated by hatred of another because of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, handicap status, or gender. All hate crimes would still be crimes even if the bias motivation were absent; therefore, each hate crime listed below is also tallied elsewhere in this report.

In 1999, 13 crimes were reported in Cambridge that could be classified as a “hate crimes”:

1.       On February 15, while a 30-year old Somerville female was parked on Hampshire Street, she was confronted by a cab driver that ordered her out of taxi stand. The suspect shouted a racial slur at her and threatened the victim with physical assault. This incident was coded as a threat to commit a crime.

2.       Sometime during the night of April 10, a swastika and threat were painted on the front window of an insurance company in the 1300 block of Cambridge Street. This crime was classified as malicious destruction.

3.       At 1:00 a.m. on the morning of April 17, a Cambridgeport female reported that a group of youths were throwing eggs and rocks at her Lopez Street residence. When confronted by the victim, the juveniles retaliated with a string of ethnic slurs. This incident was categorized as malicious destruction.

4.       On the morning of April 27, a 30-year-old employee of the City of Cambridge was accosted while working on Cushing Street. The suspect shouted a racial slur at the victim and punched him in the face. The victim suffered an injured knee in this attack. This crime was coded as a simple assault.

5.       While walking in the 400 block of Mass Ave on the night of May 17, two teenage males from Boston were accosted by a pair of suspects. Suspects punched victim in the head and questioned his sexual orientation. Victim refused medical attention. This crime was categorized as a simple assault.

6.       On June 3 at 8AM, a City of Cambridge employee was checking the restroom facilities at 57 Inman Street. The employee discovered a pen drawing of a swastika on the wall of the toilet stall. The drawing was accompanied with anti – Semitic and sexual orientation slurs. This crime was coded as the defacement of public property and tagging.

7.       Over a six-day period in June, a 25-year-old male who resides in Cambridge, was confronted by a suspect on three occasions who threatened him with bodily harm and derided his sexual orientation. This incident was classified as stalking and threats to commit a crime.

8.       On the night of June 16, a 25-year-old male Cantabrigian was walking on Harvard Street when he was assaulted from behind. Multiple suspects kicked, punched and robbed victim of his valuables. During the commission of this crime, suspects derided victim’s sexual orientation. The incident was coded as a robbery.

9.       On the night of June 30, a teenage male was assaulted from behind at Jefferson Park. Two suspects were involved in the altercation. The victim was conveyed to Cambridge City Hospital. for medical attention. Racial slurs were uttered. The incident was categorized as an assault and battery.

10.    A 26-year-old Cambridge man was discriminated against while making a delivery to a Cambridge Street establishment on the afternoon of August 9,1999. The victim was assaulted and barraged with ethnic slurs. The incident was coded as a simple assault.

11.    A 60-year-old male tourist from Houston was assaulted and threatened while attempting to workout at a Harvard Square fitness Center in October. The victim was struck with a telephone and berated for his national origin. This incident was coded as an aggravated assault. 

12.    On the afternoon of November 1^st , a 61 – year old Cantabrigian was accosted while sitting at a bus stop on Huron Ave. A pair of suspects verbally berated the victim with a host of racial slurs. This incident was classified as a violation of civil rights.

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