Fact check: What are the most recent FBI statistics on left and right wing hate crimes in the US?

1. Summary of the results

The most recent FBI statistics on hate crimes in the US, as reported by the FBI ^[1], show a decrease of 1.5 percent in reported hate crime incidents from 11,041 in 2023 to 10,873 in 2024. However, the data does not provide a specific breakdown of left and right wing hate crimes ^{[2] [3]}. According to the ADL Center on Extremism ^[4], in 2024, domestic extremists killed at least 13 people in the U.S., with the majority of the murders connected to right-wing extremism, particularly white supremacists. Other sources, such as the Cato Institute ^[5] and the ADL ^[4], also report that right-wing extremist violence has been more frequent and more lethal than left-wing violence. For example, the Cato Institute ^[5] states that 391 murders were committed by right-wing terrorists, accounting for 11% of the total, while left-wing terrorists murdered 65 people, or about 2% of the total. The ADL ^[4] also reports that in 2024, all 13 identified extremist-related murders were committed by right-wing extremists. Key findings include a decrease in reported hate crime incidents and an increase in right-wing extremist violence.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks context regarding the definitions and criteria used to classify hate crimes as left or right wing ^{[2] [3]}. Additionally, the statement does not consider the complexity of politically motivated violence in the US, which is influenced by various factors, including differences in definitions and the removal of government-sponsored studies on domestic terrorists ^[6]. Alternative viewpoints, such as those presented by the Cato Institute ^[5] and the ADL ^[4], highlight the importance of considering the frequency and lethality of right-wing extremist violence in the US. It is essential to consider these alternative viewpoints to gain a comprehensive understanding of hate crimes and extremist violence. Some of the key points to consider include:

• The FBI's definition of hate crimes and how it collects data ^[1]
• The ADL's tracking of domestic extremist-related murders ^[4]
• The Cato Institute's analysis of politically motivated violence ^[5]
• The complexity of defining and measuring extremist violence ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading, as it implies that the FBI releases statistics on left and right wing hate crimes, when in fact, the data does not provide a specific breakdown of these categories ^{[2] [3]}. This lack of clarity may benefit those who seek to downplay the severity of right-wing extremist violence, as reported by the ADL ^[4] and the Cato Institute ^[5]. On the other hand, the statement may also be seen as biased towards highlighting the issue of hate crimes, which could benefit organizations that focus on tracking and combating extremist violence, such as the ADL ^[4]. It is crucial to approach the topic with a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved and to consider multiple sources to avoid perpetuating misinformation or bias ^{[1] [4] [3] [2] [7] [5] [6]}.