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The life 
& times 
of
Warren Swil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

V 1

 

by Warren Swil

Glendale News-Press May 9, 1996

Has the Jewel City lost its shine? In light of the 150% increase in hate crimes in Glendale between 1994 and 1995, it may appear so. But don’t rush to judgment.

According to the 16th annual Hate Crimes Report by the L. A. County Commission on Human Relations, the city had the dubious distinction of being the site of 10 hate crimes last year, up from just four the year before.

Throughout the county, however, the increase was a scant 2%. Relative to Glendale’s average of seven per year over the past eight years (locally, records have been kept only since 1988), last year wasn’t alarming. Armenians are the most common targets of hate crimes; of the 72 reported since 1988, victims in 25 have been Armenians. Not a pretty picture.

A couple of years ago, when City Council member Eileen Givens was mayor, top officials, community leaders and some victims promptly called a news conference after each hate crime to emphatically let the bad guys know they are not welcome here. Mayor Givens’ Hate Crimes Task Force recommended a vigorous public response to racial or religiously motivated crimes.

The task force evolved into the Glendale Community Relations Coalition, which Givens now chairs and which springs into action as soon as a hate crime is reported. However, Givens has heard conflicting opinions about the wisdom of drawing attention to incidents through the media, as she did in 1994 and early 1995.

“Police feel it gives credibility to the bad guys, and the victims may want to preserve their privacy,” Givens said. When individuals are victims, the coalition writes letters of support, visits them and has even raised money for one to buy security lights. 

“There’s a lot of good stuff going on,” Givens said. “But the response to hate crimes must come from the community. Victims want to know that real people support them, not just officials - that the people of the city won’t put up with it.”

Perhaps this is why last year’s mayor was conspicuously absent after hate crimes occurred, leading some to perceive lack of concern. To voice the sentiments of the community our City Council elects a leader, the mayor. In the cacophony of public discourse, it takes a loud voice to be heard. In almost any city, the mayor is likely to get the most attention when he speaks.

It behooves him to speak for the rest of us - loudly, clearly and convincingly - each and every time a hate crime is committed in the city. Repeated exposure is the only way to make sure the message is eventually heard. We must never allow Glendale to become known as the hate crime capital of the Southland.