Last November, the Jewish Light received a grant from the Press Club of Metro-politan St. Louis to study hate violence against both Jews and also other groups protected by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was signed into law last October.

In the past six months the Light has spoken to dozens of agencies and individuals who track and investigate hate crimes as well as victims and perpetrators of bias-motivated violence. The results of these interviews and others is the foundation of “The State of Hate,” a special two-part section that appears in today’s newspaper and will conclude in the June 2nd edition. The series can also be found on the Jewish Light’s website at: www.stljewishlight.com.

The stories in the series

Today’s articles include:

• The landscape of hate violence in America today

• The impact of a hate crime at a local synagogue that occurred more than three decades ago

• Frequently asked questions about hate crimes

• Profiles of hate offenders

• An overview of anti-Semitism in America since the beginning of the 20th century

• An interview with Anti-Defamation League President Abraham Foxman discussing the ADL’s battles against anti-Semitism and hate

Online you will also find:

• Exclusive video of St. Louisan Rick Kalina talking about the hate crime that occurred at his bar mitzvah

Coming next week:

• How other minority groups, including blacks, Hispanics, Muslims and homosexuals, confront hate and why it is underreported

• Hate crime on college campuses

• Why prosecuting hate crimes is so difficult

• The impact of the Internet on spreading hate

• Efforts to bust hate in America

• Online video interviews with two St. Louis men who allege they were attacked because they are gay