California Leaders Address Rising Hate Incidents with Policy Focus and New Data

July 2, 2025

of News Article California lawmakers and state agencies are working to address rising hate crimes and bias incidents across the state, as highlighted in a recent legislative hearing and two government reports. Assemblymember Corey Jackson chaired a hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia, bringing together experts and community leaders to discuss the impact of hate and potential solutions. The California Department of Justice's report showed religious bias hate crimes increased by 3.

Who is affected

Black Californians who experience hate incidents more frequently than other groups
Jewish communities facing a 7.3% increase in anti-Jewish bias events
Religious communities experiencing a 3.0% overall increase in religious bias hate crimes
White Californians who saw a 15.1% rise in anti-White bias incidents
An estimated 2.6 million Californians who experienced at least one act of hate between 2022-2023
Approximately 525,000 individuals who encountered potentially criminal hate acts
Communities targeted by race, religion, gender identity and other forms of discrimination
Black youth who face disproportionate use of force by police

What action is being taken

The Assembly Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia is holding hearings on hate incidents
The California Department of Justice and California Civil Rights Department are publishing reports tracking hate crime statistics
The Stop the Hate program is being co-administered by the California Civil Rights Department and Department of Social Services
The state is maintaining CAvsHate.org and a multilingual hotline (833-866-4283) for reporting bias incidents
The California Health Interview Survey is collecting data on hate incidents not captured in police reports
Attorney General Rob Bonta is urging leaders across the state to review data and resources on hate crimes
Community organizations like the Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee are working to address harassment issues

Why it matters

California has experienced the highest rates of hate and discrimination in its history over the last five years
Approximately 525,000 Californians encountered potentially criminal hate acts between 2022-2023
Hate crimes involving religious bias increased by 3.0% from 2023 to 2024
Anti-Jewish bias events rose by 7.3%, from 289 to 310 incidents
Anti-White bias incidents increased by 15.1%
Police use force against Black youth aged 12-14 at a rate of 45% compared to 19% for White youth
The data reveals that many hate incidents go unreported to law enforcement
Understanding the full scope of hate crimes is essential for developing effective prevention strategies

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint