In First Month, California vs Hate Receives 180 Reports of Hate Acts
It’s been one month since we launched California vs Hate, and today, we are sharing preliminary data surrounding reporting: in total, 180 acts of hate were reported to the hotline last month.
Throughout May, California vs Hate was contacted by hundreds of individuals through the hotline and online portal. Key preliminary highlights from the data over that period include:
CA vs Hate received 180 reports of hate acts across California. Of those reports, 102 were made over the phone and 78 were made via the online portal.
Nearly half of all individuals who reported an act of hate accepted care coordination services, including direct and ongoing support accessing legal aid or counseling.
Of the reports where county information was provided, nearly 40% of California's counties were represented in the preliminary data, including all 10 of the state's most populated counties.
Among the reasons cited for the report, race and ethnicity were the most reported bias motivations, followed by religion and sexual orientation.
Approximately one in six reports were made by a witness or advocate. Most reports were made by an individual who reported being targeted for an act of hate.
Upon the release of the report, CRD Director Kevin Kish shared his thoughts on the hotline’s first month:
“Make no mistake: Hate and discrimination remain a threat across the country. However, here in California, you’re not alone in the face of hate. Through California vs Hate, we’re able to directly connect people who report to resources and support. In the hotline’s first official month, nearly half of all people who reported hate acts to our office accepted care coordination services from trained staff. No place is immune to hate, but in California, we’re committed to doing everything in our power to uplift, protect, and heal all our communities.”
While hate crime statistics are reported on a state and federal level each year, many hate crimes have historically gone unreported due to a variety of factors, including fear of retaliation, lack of culturally competent resources, and distrust of law enforcement. CA vs Hate aims to help address some of these issues by offering people targeted for hate — and their communities — additional resources to report acts of hate through a community-centered approach that does not require engagement with the criminal legal system.
Whether individuals report to CA vs Hate online or by phone, they are eligible to receive care coordination to ensure people impacted by hate are able to access resources and support, including legal, financial, mental health, and mediation services. Importantly, in contrast to local police departments or sheriff’s offices, CA vs Hate accepts all reports of hate acts and is not limited to only receiving reports that rise to the level of a criminal offense. In 2021, there was a reported total of 1,763 hate crime events — i.e., acts of hate that rose to the level of a crime — statewide. At the national level, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported nearly 11,000 hate crimes in 2021.
CRD continues to analyze data from reports that come in almost everyday, as this data will help inform our work and enable us to best serve all Californians. We’re looking forward to sharing more details and data with you all soon.
