In June 2015, a 21-year-old white male in South Carolina allegedly opened fire in an
African American church, killing nine churchgoers.
In response, the media and general public began speculating as to whether this mass
shooting was a hate crime or an act of terrorism.
But what is the actual difference between a hate crime and terrorism?
Well, both terms are specifically defined in US federal law, largely based on the intent
of the assailant.
The term “hate crime” was defined by Congress as a crime “motivated by the victim's race,
ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability".
These are considered federally protected groups.
Whereas an "act of terror" is distinguished as being “intended to intimidate or coerce
a civilian population or government through mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.”
Despite the distinction between the two, there is a significant amount of overlap.
However, the defining feature of terrorism is the intent to intimidate or influence a
larger population.
Part of the reason that many religious attacks are considered terrorism is because they intend
to scare or provoke a larger group, usually counter to their religion.
One of the reasons September 11th was considered a terror attack was because Osama bin Laden
laid out the motive as being retribution against the West for various grievances.
Obviously, the attack was intended to provoke and influence the United States.
Some have even suggested that 9/11 was done to to bankrupt the US with an expensive war.
These satisfy the requirements for terrorism.
By comparison, an indiscriminate mass shooting, like in Aurora, Colorado, would not be considered
an act of terrorism, or a hate crime.
It would more likely be attributed to the motive of wanting to murder a large group
of people.
Without evidence of the intent to harm a protected group, or influence a population or government,
it would simply be considered a mass shooting.
In the case of the South Carolina shooting, the suspect was quoted as saying “you're
taking over our country, you have to go” during the attack.
This is assumed to be in reference to African Americans overall, and not exclusively those
who he killed.
This suggests that his motive was of a larger racial scope than simply hating African Americans
and wanting to kill them, and could certainly qualify as “terrorism”.
Perhaps it is easiest to say that while most terrorism would also qualify as a hate crime,
but not all hate crimes are acts of terrorism.
Although there is regularly a movement to paint white crimes as “mental illness”
or “hate crimes” while calling minority crimes “acts of terrorism”, it is important
to note that the difference is not based on race, but intent.
The term “terrorism” is notoriously vague.
So how do we really define acts of terror?
Check out our full video here.
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