Idaho hate crimes increase, with Latinos targeted often. See what one Meridian man did
Black-and-white video footage, obtained by Meridian police last fall, showed a man approaching a dark-colored truck at night. He removed something from a bag and squatted down toward a tire, according to a police report obtained by the Idaho Statesman via the public records process.
The man, who was arrested, punctured the tires, messed with other vehicles of Latino neighbors and left notes, including one that read: “We don’t want to see you. We don’t want to hear you.” Police found the man’s blog online, where he’d written about his concern about other cultures.
He was responsible for all seven of Meridian’s reported hate crime incidents last year, according to an Idaho State Police report and a Meridian spokesperson. Court documents and a press release show he was initially charged with malicious harassment.
However, he pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor malicious injury to property, according to the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office. He paid restitution of over $2,500 and served 35 days in jail.
“I want to be clear, this type of behavior is not a reflection of the values we hold dear as a community and is not tolerated,” Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said at the time of the man’s arrest. “We condemn any act motivated by bias, prejudice or hatred and will continue to actively promote a culture of inclusivity and understanding.”
Hate crime incidents in Idaho rose to at least a three-year high in 2023, according to the Idaho State Police’s newly released Crime in Idaho report. And Latino people were one of the most targeted groups.
Though the state’s Latino population is growing, just 13.8% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That would mean around 270,000 Idahoans identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Last year, 54 hate crime incidents were reported, the most since 2020 — matching that year’s 54 hate crimes. (The Idaho State Police reported 56 but the Boise Police Department said its number was off by one and Caldwell Police said that “White Power” vandalism at Caldwell High was later determined to be gang-related.)
There were 47 incidents in 2021 and 50 in 2022.
Eleven of the crimes had an anti-Hispanic or anti-Latino motivation — making up approximately 20% of the total hate crimes. Other groups were targeted as well, including 17 reports against Black or African American people and 10 against members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“There are a lot of things that are indicators of problems when we’re talking about racism, and certainly I think hate crimes is one of those indicators,” said Rebecca De León, American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho communications director. “But that isn’t the only indicator of racism. There are so many other things that minority communities have to deal with on a day-to-day basis that constitute racism, that create extra barriers.”
For example, one of the biggest complaints the ACLU of Idaho receives is from people who are discriminated against at work for speaking Spanish or just being Latino, De León said.
The ACLU of Idaho also released a report last year saying that the dress codes in the Nampa and Caldwell school districts discriminate against Latino students, according to previous Statesman reporting.
The ACLU of Idaho anticipates that the next legislative session will include blatant racist rhetoric along the lines of national immigration conversations, De León said. The ACLU also expects immigrants of any legal status and Latino Idahoans to be grouped together and attacked, she said.
In fact, Gov. Brad Little recently signed a bill to address noncitizen voting, though it’s already illegal and extraordinarily rare. And the city of Eagle recently declared itself a nonsanctuary city and barred services to immigrants who do not have permanent legal status, according to previous Statesman reporting.
“It is meant to other certain groups. It’s meant to scapegoat certain people who haven’t done anything,” De León said. “I think racism against Latinos is becoming very popular right now.”
This story was originally published July 25, 2024 at 4:00 AM.