LA vs Hate Launched Seventh Annual “United Against Hate Week” in LA County

Amidst a Divisive Election Season, Coalition Addresses Urgent Need to Take Action to Protect and Support Targeted Communities.

Frankie Aguirre, a victim of hate (second from left), LA District Attorney George Gascón (fourth from left), Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District (center), and Robin Toma, Executive Director LA County’s Commission on Human Relations (first on the right), attended the launch of “United Against Hate Week” at the Historic Watts Train Station in Los Angeles on Friday, September 20.

LOS ANGELES, CA Sep 23, 2024– LA vs Hate, the county’s anti-hate program, hosted the launch of United Against Hate Week in Los Angeles, welcoming LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and LA County District Attorney George Gascón, as well as coalition partners Not in Our Town, CA vs Hate, and Stop the Hate for their annual press conference. Partners, activists, organizations, schools, and communities joined the coalition to rally together and spread messages of hope and vigilance in the fight against hate.

United Against Hate Week (UAHW) is a call for local civic action to stop hate, discrimination, and implicit biases that negatively impact our diverse communities, neighborhoods, and cities. While the week has historically taken place in November, this year, UAHW organizers moved the campaign up to September in recognition of the UN International Day of Peace. This week of action supports communities across the country which have historically confronted the rise of hate and divisive rhetoric connected to elections.

“United Against Hate Week is a powerful reminder that everyone can do something to stand up to hate, and it starts with making a daily commitment to not allowing or perpetuating racism, homophobia, antisemitism, islamophobia, anti-Asian, anti-Black, or any form of hate that only serves to divide us,” said  Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “Our work to end hate is a shared responsibility that we must take seriously. I encourage all residents to participate in their local United Against Hate Week events and visit LAvsHate.org to learn how to join LA County in standing up to hate every day.”

“​​LA vs Hate is honored to stand with this coalition to launch United Against Hate Week, especially needed during this highly charged election season,” said Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission Executive Director Robin Toma. “In response to the divisive rhetoric and tensions across communities, LA vs Hate is launching a new campaign called “Stop Hate. Vote.” We hope this non-partisan campaign will remind LA County residents to vote their values, and how their vote – and interact with others – could have an impact on the rise in hate acts. We urge people to think before they vote, then vote, and to practice civility and mutual respect towards everyone.”

“In a county as diverse as Los Angeles, my office is extremely proud of our partnership with this important community coalition to take strong action against hate crimes, and to encourage acceptance and understanding among Angelenos,” said LA County District Attorney George Gascón. “Our office prosecutes more hate crimes than any other county in California, seeking justice for victims and ensuring that those who harm others are held accountable. In addition to vigorous prosecutions, our office’s groundbreaking anti-bias programs are making breakthroughs by addressing the root causes of hate through education, mental health support, and victim reconciliation. We share LA vs Hate’s goal of preventing hate crimes and reducing recidivism. These initiatives represent a bold commitment to dismantling prejudice and fostering inclusivity.”

“We’re proud to join with partners up and down California to take a stand against hate,” said California Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish. “Together, we’re sending a clear message that there is no place for bias and discrimination in our state. Whether you report to CA vs Hate, local law enforcement, or community leaders and programs you trust, we’re working to help ensure there is no wrong door to get support. United Against Hate Week is a time for all of us to get involved in the fight against hate. Join us! And remember: You can always report and get support by calling 833-8-NO-HATE or visiting CAvsHate.org.”

“United Against Hate Week was founded by city leaders in Northern California in response to white supremacists marching in the streets of our towns after Charlottesville. How can we all do something in the face of this threat? City leaders began with a poster campaign, followed by a call for a week of action each year to encourage all residents to find a way to stand up to hate together,” said leader of Not In Our Town and co-founder of United Against Hate week Patrice O’Neill. “This week of civic action has spread to over 200 communities and schools across the U.S,” O’Neill continued. “ We are honored to partner with leaders and communities including LA vs Hate, CA vs Hate, and Stop the Hate to encourage everyone to report hate crimes and incidents so our communities can respond together.”

“I am proud to see the ‘whole of government’ standing united against hate,” said Executive Director of the City of LA’s Civil Rights Department Capri Maddox. “During our LA for All week starting on September 27th, the LA City family, alongside our many partners, will light up the skyline for three days in our #LAForAll colors, celebrating the vibrant diversity of Los Angeles.”

“The Stop the Hate program is a vital tool in tackling the rising tide of hate in California,” said AAPI Equity Alliance Program Director and California’s Stop the Hate Network’s Kiran Bhalla. “It puts statewide strength behind local, trusted, community-based resources, to support victims of hate and their families, and works through multi-racial coalitions to prevent hate in the long-run. Hate won’t fade away in the next year or two – It’s critical that we continue to put resources into the anti-hate fight.”

Recent statistics underscore the alarming trend of hate incidents in California. Statewide, reported hate crimes have nearly doubled from 1,015 in 2019 to 1,970 in 2023. Following two years of double-digit increases, reported hate crimes in Los Angeles County grew 18% from 790 to 929, the second largest number in more than 20 years. These figures, compounded with the reality that hate crimes and incidents are typically underreported nationwide, underscore the urgent need to take action to protect and support targeted communities.

This coalition is one of many government agencies, community organizations, and nonprofits that have been working to address and stymie the rise of hate on a national, state and local level. Launched by the LA County Commission on Human Relations in 2019, LA vs Hate is a community-centered program designed to encourage all residents of Los Angeles County to unite against and report hate, as well as to support those of us who may have been victims of hate-motivated acts. The program provides a free, confidential and anonymous hotline for victims and witnesses to report any hate incident or hate crime via online reporting to LAvsHate.org or by calling 2-1-1 in LA County, in turn receiving free follow-up services and supportive resources. By creating a specialized network of multicultural community organizations, LA vs Hate established a unique program that provides culturally-competent and identity-affirming services to those targeted for hate. Launched in 2023, the state’s anti-hate hotline and resource network California vs Hate builds off the successful model of LA County’s program providing support to residents across all of California.

Since its launch in September 2019, LA vs Hate has received more than 2,700 reports of hate, over 800 during the last year alone. Approximately 88% of those callers have requested personal assistance though case management, demonstrating the critical need for hate victim support.

At the press conference, Frankie Aguirre, a survivor of hate, spoke about years of anti-gay harassment by neighbors, explaining that the harassment was so bad that he didn’t want to invite family or friends to visit. It was only after calling 211 and connecting to the LA vs Hate system and resources, his care coordinator worked with Aguirre about getting help to move to another place. Once he did, he finally felt safe and became free from the constant demeaning harassment he endured for so long. In his remarks, Aguirre urged others facing hate to turn to LAvsHate.org/211 for help.

The press conference was hosted at the “Unity Under the Sun” mural, a 200-foot installation facing the Watts Historic Train Station. This mural was presented by LA vs Hate in partnership with nonprofit Build Plus Community Marketplace and Watts Century Latino Organization. The mural, created in collaboration by two local Los Angeles artists, Misteralek and Showzart, spans the walls surrounding the train station and conveys a message of diversity, love, and honoring the cultural history of the Watts community.

This event was one of many events planned during LA County’s fifth celebration of United Against Hate Week. Now through September 27, local communities will host webinars, events, screenings, art projects, community dialogues, and meditation gatherings to provide a dynamic way to increase engagement across neighborhoods and support efforts to stand up to hate in our communities. UAHW emerged from a United Against Hate poster campaign created by Bay Area cities in response to white supremacist rallies in Berkeley and San Francisco in 2017 and was established as an annual event by Not in Our Town, a national anti-hate organization. Now in its seventh year, 200+ communities across the country have joined UAHW and committed to an annual week of action and awareness.