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FREEDOM TO INCITE HATE Hate crimes are rising in America. Motivated from hostility to color, creed, gender or sexual orientation, they are encouraged by inconsistent views of freedom of press. Monday December 6, the Express, Washington Post's commuter giveaway ran two photos of Warren Beatty and Secretary of State Colin Powell on the "People" page, Outlook Section. Beatty, a Kennedy Center honoree and Powell, US Secretary of State, are pictured, by AP photographer J Scott Applewhite, sharing a giggle. AP was invited beyond the Open Press red velvet cording, by the White House, and country, to photograph amongst the honorees, assuring maximum coverage of the Kennedy Center's annual event. Beatty, pictured finger pointing to the sky, Powell howling, the Express headline editor titled the segment, "LAUGHS,", "Then Condi Said To The Rabbi." In a city and culture sensitive to anti-Semitism and racism, politically charged by terrorism, the headline was not only ill conceived but reflective of editorial bias. The chosen headline could have been "Did you hear the one about." or used other images with less opportunity to offend or incite. Other guests at the event I photographically covered included colourful moments provided Robert Downey Jr , Lou Gossett Jr, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Kid Rock, Bo Derek, Faye Dunaway, Sir Elton John and partner David Furnish, ambassadors and Kennedy Center patrons. Abusing privilege with tactlessness is inappropriate behaviour from media. Freedom of press is not a right to insult or incite in print or online. Understanding the nature of those who commit hate crimes is quite simple. Hate crimes are message crimes committed by "average people," Dr. Jack McDevitt, a criminologist, says " sending a message to members of a certain group that they are unwelcome." "Hate in literature" is only one forum amongst many from which their inflammatory ideas can be taken that are dangerous, indecent, ugly, harmful, or offensive. Contrary to popular belief they are not committed by hate group conspiracists. Most are committed by lone wolves acting with one maybe two others. Defined as "actions intended to harm or intimidate people because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or other minority group status" hate crimes are criminal. The vast majority of hate crimes are simple assault, no serious injury occurring and no weapon used, or intimidation, the use of threatening words or conduct. The National Institute of Mental Health reports hate crimes have more serious psychological effects than non-bias motivated crimes. The FBI provides an annual report on crime statistics submitted from more than 11,900 law enforcement agencies around the country. In 2003, 16% of those agencies reported hate crimes in their jurisdictions during 2003. The 7,400 hate crimes were reported with more than half of those crimes reported, religious in motivation, mostly targeting Jews and blacks. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have different definitions of hate crimes along with different ways of recording reported information. Hate crimes may be misfiled, not cross referenced from assault and battery, arson, vandalism, property destruction, intimidation, burglary and theft. Or even filed at all. In the case of a mid '20's Washingtonian African male assaulted by five adult males soon after leaving a Washington Navy Yard area Gay bar, the incident reported in his home Maryland district was not recorded by his police department nor referred back to DC as an incident, a hate crime, gay crime, or even, in light of the "5 against 1" odds, an assault. In Long Island over the Thanksgiving weekend, a racially mixed husband and wife had a cross burned on their front lawn. December 6th, over 40 homes in Indian Head, Maryland were burned, initially reported as possible eco-terrorism, still being confirmed is the one report mentioning an occurrence of anti-black graffiti prior to the incident. The Hunters Brooke development has a black constituency. Is this an overreaction to a headline. Not at all. The Post demonstrates lack of understanding of their role of unrestricted speech for the press in our democratic system. As with beauty, it is in the eye of the beholder or is this case, in the mind of the reader.. remember Burford O Burrow who opened fire at a Jewish Community Center. His friends and neighbors described him as just a nice regular everyday guy. Until he read something. Somewhere. And opened fire.. Maybe the next headline will be "did you hear the one about the Jewish Group and the Black Group that decided to sue the media.." Or that an apology is issued. Now, that could be funny. BIO: Carrie Devorah is an award winning investigative photojournalist cross credentialed as a Crime Information Analyst, profiler, security and mediator. She covered international horseracing and boxing before returning to America writing on issues related to Faith, Homeland Security and International Terrorism. Devorah is a member of the National Press Club.