O.C. hate crime report to be presented to public

The public will get its first glance at the county’s record on hate crimes for 2007 when the Orange County Human Relations Council submits its annual report to the board of supervisors Wednesday.

Senior Human Relations Specialist James Armendaris will present the detailed report during a luncheon at the Newport Beach Stake Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints. The report, created annually for nearly 20 years, compiles statistics from law enforcement, county prosecutors, community groups and hate crime victims. Instances of hate are separated into two groups: crimes — an unlawful offense motivated by discrimination; and incidents — a lawful but hateful act, like an anti-Semitic speech or racist publication.

The report aims to track hate crime patterns and how public policy, media and law enforcement affects those trends. The group maintains its statistics are only on recorded incidents, so the actual number of hateful actions is likely much higher, according to the 2006 report.

Tickets for Wednesday’s event are $10 person if reserved by Monday, or $12 thereafter. You can reserve a spot by e-mailing [email protected] or calling the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council at (714) 921-8665.

— Joseph Serna