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CSUSB expert on extremism part of panel discussion on hate (video)Fox 11 NewsMay 6, 2018

Fox 11 assembled a group of religious/community leaders and the founders of the NoH8 campaign to discuss the state of hate in 2018. With the help of Cal State San Bernardino hate-crime law professor Brian Levin, they explored where we are and what we need to do.

Watch the complete panel discussion at “Fox 11 News In Depth: The state of hate in 2018.”

CSUSB professor comments on Facebook’s liberal bias audit led by conservative ex-senator VICE NewsMay 4, 2018

Retired Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, who was regularly ranked among the country’s most conservative senators and who is associated with anti-Muslim groups, will lead Facebook’s outside audit on political bias.

“He’s got really good name recognition among very conservative people, and that’s one of the demographics that has a significant amount of distrust or concern with regards to Facebook,” said criminologist and attorney Brian Levin, director of the nonpartisan Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. “But yes, those connections are disturbing.”

If Facebook is trying to win trust back from conservatives, it’s a smart move to put someone like Kyl at the helm, Levin said.

“Ten years ago it would have made him an unacceptable choice,” said Levin. “But look where we are now: This is something we’re seeing internationally, this revving up of anti-Islamic sentiment. This is what happens when this gets mainstreamed.”

Read the complete article at “Facebook's liberal bias audit will be led by an anti-Muslim ex-senator.”

Hate-crime numbers in Chicago fell in 2017, and experts aren’t sure whyChicago Sun TimesMay 6, 2018

It’s not clear why the numbers dropped or whether that means fewer such crimes actually occurred, experts say. They note that hate crimes typically are underreported because victims frequently don’t call the police, or investigations can’t pin down motives involving bias.

The FBI releases yearly data of hate crimes, but its 2017 numbers aren’t out yet. The year before, the number of hate crimes nationally was up 4.6 percent over 2015, FBI numbers show.

“New York and Chicago are still near their recent highs,” according to Brian Levin, who runs the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

“There are national trends, but the regional ones are far more important,” Levin says. “Demographic changes, local conflict, serial offenders, organized hate groups and political tension” all play a role.

“Most hate crimes do not end up being prosecuted as hate crimes,” Levin says. “What has to be established is that it has to be a hate crime beyond a reasonable doubt. It can’t be just an add-on if it will increase the penalty severely.”

Read the complete article at “Hate-crime numbers in Chicago fell in 2017, and experts aren’t sure why.”

CSUSB expert on extremism interviewed about how youth act on polarized political beliefs Youth TodayMay 7, 2018

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at CSU San Bernardino noted the social ecosystem of hate is changing. In the past it has been reliably true that those acting out violently on their beliefs are less likely to be college educated and mostly commit violent acts between the ages of 26 and 45. But with polarization occurring at a younger age that could be changing.

“There is a concerted effort to target the younger demographic,” Levin stated of the extremist groups he studies. “You’re going to see extremism at a younger age.”

Read the complete article at “As Colleges Polarize Politically, Extremists Are Getting Younger.”

These news clips and others may be found at “In the Headlines” on the Inside CSUSB website.