At a time when African Americans and LGBT people face increasing violence, police and activists warn that false reports of hate do real damage.
While such hoaxes are rare, they say, each one diverts resources from actual victims, sows doubt about legitimate attacks, and gives material to those who would minimize the threat of hate in the United States.
“Bogus police reports cause real harm,” Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told reporters Thursday.
“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, who is black and gay, is accused of paying two men to attack him last month in what police say was a ploy to raise his profile because he was unhappy with his salary.
Smollett, 36, is now charged with disorderly conduct, a Class 4 felony that carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.
NAACP spokesman Malik Russell said the allegations against Smollett should not be used as a “smokescreen” to obscure real racism in the United States.
“We don’t want this to be an opportunity for individuals who support racism to push this issue under the bus,” Russell told USA Today. “Issues that impact communities of color are not always taken seriously.”
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