'Hate Crime' at Harvard: Gay Books Vandalized

While I don't support vandalizing books in a library, how is pouring urine on a book a hate crime?

Harvard police say they are investigating vandalism to about 40 books about lesbian and gay issues at a university library as a hate crime.

Security staff at Lamont Library said in a report filed with campus police on Friday that it appeared someone poured urine on the books on Nov. 24. An empty bottle was found nearby.

A police spokesman tells The Crimson student newspaper that all the books were about lesbian, gay and same-sex marriage issues.

Library spokeswoman Beth Brainard says it took so long to report the incident because staff wanted to assess the value of the books. She says they were worth several thousand dollars and will be discarded.

If vandalizing books is a hate crime, is burning down property and scrawling "f--k the rich" on property a hate crime?