BREAKING: FBI Will Track Hate Crimes Against Sikhs, HIndus And Arabs

June 5, 2013 Subscribe · Forward FBI Makes Big Changes On Hate Crimes After years of pressure from civil rights groups and lawmakers who say attacks against religious and ethnic minorities are not adequately monitored by law enforcement, the FBI will begin formally tracking hate crimes against Sikhs, Hindus and Arabs. Meeting in Portsmouth, Va., on Wednesday, an FBI advisory board voted to expand standard hate-crime incident reports used by thousands of police departments across the country to include crimes motivated by bias against the two religious groups, as well as Arabs. The changes, which go into effect by 2015, are being praised by Sikh, Hindu and Arab advocates hoping to avoid underreporting of hate crimes and increase awareness among law enforcement of their religions and cultures. In particular, members of the Sikh religion, in which men typically grow beards and wear turbans, have said crimes against them are often misreported as anti-Muslim.  Continue reading... Coming Out As A Buddhist WATCH: High School Valedictorian Rips Up Speech, Recites Lord's Prayer God's Gender Agenda This Native American Wore An Eagle Feather To Her High School Graduation And Was Fined $1000 Can A Christian Watch 'Game Of Thrones?' LOOK: Muslim Fashion Stomps Down The Indonesian Runways Christian Prophet Says Native American Bloodlines Must Repent Fox Host: First Ever Atheist Monument Will Be Vandalized This Native American Wore An Eagle Feather To Her High School Graduation And Was Fined $1000 Christian Prophet Says Native American Bloodlines Must Repent Drinking Starbucks Is Anti-Christian, Evangelical Says ENGY ABDELKADER 99.3% of Egyptian Women, Girls Have Been Sexually Harassed Even one abused woman or girl is one too many. It is way past time for Egypt, and all societies, to protect, respect and honor its women and girls. Continue reading... BERNARD STARR The Apostle Paul Lived and Died as a Dedicated Jew Paul's vision was to make his brand of Judaism -- with the recognition of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah -- a world religion easily accessible to everyone. At no time did he repudiate Judaism or declare that he represented a new religion. Continue reading... RABBI LAWRENCE TROSTER Beyond the Letter of the Law: Jewish Ethical Investing in Light of Climate Change It is imperative that Jewish communities address the morality of investing in fossil fuel companies, whose fundamental operations imperil humanity and functional ecosystems. Continue reading... REV. PETER M. WALLACE The Institution May Be Dying, But the Need Is Not No matter what denomination or faith tradition, organized religion is declining. And yet people still yearn for a connection to their spiritual core, a relationship with the reality beyond themselves. Continue reading... BENJAMIN BARER Why Separate Church and State? It is a basic, knee-jerk reaction in the Western world to rail against any politician who seeks to justify a position by referencing their faith. I wonder, however, how we have gotten away with perpetuating this misconception that somehow our religious traditions do not have anything constructive to contribute to our political realities. Continue reading... Received this from a friend? Sign up for alerts from The Huffington Post here. Unsubscribe here. Huffington Post, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003