It’s been 40 years since the B.C. Civil Rights Protection Act was passed in the wake of rising crimes against people of colour in the province.
The law, which prohibits the promotion of hatred, means perpetrators can be fined up to $2,000 or spend up to six months in jail, or both.
While the act was a step forward, many advocates say most human rights laws still remain ineffective in bringing justice to those wronged by race-based violence and harassment. The issue has come even more sharply into focus over the past two years, with a spike in hate crimes in British Columbia.
Police-reported hate crimes
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