Most of the nation's 10 largest cities had significant jumps in hate crimes last year; this increase is of average 22% leading to a record 1,889 cases. It was the second straight year of increases in the big cities' overall average number of hate crimes — typically defined as violence stemming from victims' race, color, sexuality, religion, or national origin. The unpublished report by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, reflects a 22-year trend of increasing hate crimes nationwide, amid a rise in white nationalism and soaring numbers of attacks on Asian Americans during the pandemic. Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city, had the most reported hate crimes — a record 609, with 195 of those classified as anti-Black, 98 as anti-gay (male), 91 as anti-Jewish, and 88 as anti-Latino. Chicago, the third-largest city, had the biggest increase — 84.6%, followed by Austin, Texas, at 58.6%. Among smaller cities, Sacramento, saw the most significant percentage rise in hate crimes (47.4%), followed by Kansas City. There are positive signs for some big cities in the report: Phoenix, San Diego, and San Antonio had significant declines in hate crimes last year. #Queer Up The USA View