The Los Angeles Post

CA Anti-Hate Organization Seeks Solutions to Hate Crimes

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ACT Against Hate Alliance Works to Counter Fear and Hate

California Treasurer Fiona Ma Praises Work of Law Enforcement

Los Angeles, CA (December 14, 2022) – The ACT Against Hate Alliance is working to find solutions to stem the rising tide of hate crimes in California. Part of the solution is educating Californians about the problem and its roots. Another part of the solution is creating a concerted response that demonstrates a culture of tolerance and acceptance.

ACT Against Hate Alliance (AAHA) hosted the fourth in its series of virtual meetings today to examine how hate crimes affect California communities and to suggest solutions. Today’s presentation included contributions by California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Dr. Adam Rose, a Research Professor with the Price School of Public Policy and Terrorism Expert at the University of Southern California and John Duran, a Civil Rights Attorney and LGBTQ+ Leader, rounded out the monthly presentation.

• The Honorable Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer

“We are very happy that (county) district attorneys are now digging into these types of crimes and actually calling them what they are,” said Ma during the AAHA meeting. “This allows us to monitor what is happening and take steps to protect our communities.”

Ma credited local community organizations in cities like San Francisco, for example, that have taken proactive steps to combat the rising trend of hate crimes in the Chinatown area and elsewhere. She says neighborhood patrols by civic organizations like the local Lions Club, Parks Alliance, and neighborhood watch groups are having a positive impact. However, she believes more work needs to be done.

• Adam Rose, Research Professor of Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California.

This positive view of community involvement is shared by Rose, who believes hate crimes are no different from terrorist attacks in American cities and communities. He pointed out that the goal of terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden was to destroy America’s financial system by attacking the World Trade Center in 2001. But Rose believes it was the diverse communities that make up the City of New York foiled that plan.

“Essentially the people of New York showed the terrorists that they were going to get back to normal and get back to business as usual,” Rose said during the AAHA meeting. “That had a great effect on reducing the losses and countering terrorism in the aftermath of the (World Trade Center) attack.”

Fear, however, is another factor that comes into play following any hate crime or terrorist attack, according to Rose. Following the World Trade Center attack, that fear was demonstrated by a two-year reduction in airline travel and related tourism.

“Fear got the best of them (people),” Rose said. “We must look at ways to quell that fear.”

• John Duran, Civil Rights Attorney and LGBTQ+ Leader

Civil Rights Attorney, former West Hollywood Mayor, and recognized LGBTQ+ community leader John Duran is convinced that, just as certain groups are responsible for the rising trend of violent hate crimes in California, other groups must become the solution.

“I do believe that if we link arms, people of good nature and good grace, and say there are more of us than there are those who hate, we can make a positive difference,” Duran said during the AAHA Meeting. “It does me no good if I just stand up for Latino immigrants and ignore Asian immigrants or others. It makes more sense for me to lock arms with people who are different but share the same goal.”

Duran, who served on a California Hate Crimes Commission in 1986, believes California is currently going through another cycle of extremism in politics and society, that is amplified, in part, by social media.

“I believe we will make progress on this issue,” Duran said. “We may not eliminate it, but we can, as a society, make progress and learn how to tolerate and respect one another.”