"The number of hate crimes reported in California decreased by 5.5 percent last year to the lowest number in a decade, according to a report released Friday by Attorney General Bill Lockyer. "

"Although crimes against whites, gays and those of Arab or Middle Eastern decent dropped, hate crimes directed at African Americans, Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders increased.... The number of reported incidents in the category that includes crimes against people of Arab or Middle Eastern descent showed the greatest decline, down 34.8 percent, from 161 in 2003 to 105 in 2004, the report states."