September 19, 2002
Source: The San Francisco Chronicle
On September 19, 2002 The San Francisco Chronicle reported that "the number of hate crimes reported in California jumped 15.5 percent to a record high last year, fueled by anti-Arab sentiment after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Attorney General Bill Lockyer said Wednesday. 'Hate crimes based on religion declined or remained nearly steady in all categories except anti-Islamic hate-crimes, which soared,' Lockyer said as he released his report, 'Hate Crime in California 2001.' Arabs and Muslims bore the brunt of the increase. The number of crimes against them jumped fivefold from 99 to 501, according to the report."