A notable hate crime that occurred in recent years in the United States was on October 27th, 2018, when a gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The attacker was motivated by anti-Semitic beliefs. He opened fire during the Shabbat morning services, murdering 11 worshippers and injuring several others, including law enforcement officers who showed up at the scene. The attack was one of the deadliest hate crimes against the Jewish community in the history of the United States. This highlighted the major threat of anti-Semitism and hate crimes targeting religious minorities. The assailant’s motives were driven by anti-Semitic beliefs, since he targeted the Jewish community specifically. This horrific event …show more content…
His motives were fueled by deep-seated hatred towards Jewish people, which meant it was a targeted act of violence against a particular group of people. The outcome of this case resulted in Robert Bowers facing multiple federal charges. “Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin, Pa., was charged in a 44-count indictment” (Pennsylvania Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting, 2018). In 2020, Robert Bowers pleaded guilty to 63 federal charges to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. I fully believe this should be classified as a hate crime because the gunman specifically targeted the synagogue while they were having service. This was a planned event that targeted a particular group of people solely based on their religious beliefs. Reflecting on the class's last discussion, which noted that our Criminal Justice System is built upon the principles of corresponding rights and responsibilities. This ensures that accountability is involved for crime victims and criminal defendants. In our Criminal Justice System, crime victims have the right to seek restitution, receive support, and be informed about their case. Victims are to be treated with dignity and respect throughout the legal