Hate crimes laws exist to ensure that people who commit crimes against members of a protected class, (women, people of color, etc) specifically for their class status, should be punished more severely.
Of the 50 US States, there are five that currently do not have hate crimes on the books with Indiana being one of them.
Buzzfeed news reporter Albert Samaha has been following the story of Jason Gardner, a fifteen year old black male that was attacked near a creek behind his home in June of this year. The attackers repeatedly called him a “Nigger,” told him he “didn’t belong” and he should “return to Africa.”
A white teen has been charged with assault but has yet to go to trial for the crime. Despite positive identification, it took local authorities two months to bring charges.
After continued racially motivated incidents including threatening texts from unknown numbers, notes on social media, and a dead groundhog on their porch the Gardners have moved from the area thanks to help of local activists while they await their day in court.
