Civil Rights Department, Local Government and Community Partners Join Together for Launch of Sixth Annual United Against Hate Week

BERKELEY – The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) — in partnership with the City of Berkeley, Not In Our Town, and LA vs Hate — today joined government and community leaders for the launch of the sixth annual United Against Hate Week (UAHW). The week is part of a call for local civic action to help put a stop to the spread of hate and discrimination, which remains a threat to our neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Throughout UAHW, local government and community partners will host dozens of anti-hate events across California — from poetry slams to rallies and more. In addition, CRD today also announced the release of new preliminary statistics showing approximately 513 reports of hate to California vs Hate, the state’s anti-hate hotline and resource network, in the first six months since its official launch.

“California continues to lead the charge in pushing back against hate,” said CRD Acting Director Mary Wheat. “From civic engagement at the grassroots level to historic statewide investments, the Civil Rights Department is proud to be part of a new generation of leaders in the fight for greater inclusion and equity for all. During United Against Hate Week, we encourage all Californians to take advantage of existing resources — like California vs Hate — to push for change from the ground up for all our communities. Whether it’s because of conflict abroad or here at home, it takes real strength to stand in solidarity in the face of bias and discrimination. Together, we’re united against hate.”

“With hate crimes increasing in California and different views spurring debate that sometimes turns hostile, movements like United Against Hate Week become more vital,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting, Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. “It is my hope that providing awareness about nonprofit services available to victims or other resources, such as the Civil Rights Department hate crime reporting hotline, we can spread the message that hate is not okay and that there is support available for those who need it.”

“Berkeley is proud to have a founding role in United Against Hate Week,” said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín. “Over the last few years, we have seen this event grow exponentially, yet there is still so much work to be done. Now more than ever, in the face of growing hate crimes, we must take a stand to bring our communities together against hatred.”

“We’re honored to stand with this coalition of organizers and leaders who are committed to pushing back against hate for the safety of all residents,” said Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission President Ilan Davidson. “When we founded LA vs Hate in 2019, it was in direct response to the rise of hate our communities were enduring, and we knew that we could not do this work alone. Through community partnerships, organizing, and activism, we have created a unique, holistic program and an expanding system that is working to ensure peace and safety for all of our communities. We hope that all who are targeted for hate know that we are here for you, there are services for you, and together we can stop the spread of hate in California and beyond.”

“Black people are disproportionately impacted by hate crimes in California, which is why the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference is proud to participate in the sixth annual United Against Hate Week,” said Rick L. Callender, ESQ., CA/HI NAACP President. “The NAACP CA/HI State Conference, in conjunction with our 57 branches across California, is dedicated and committed to eradicating hate within our state through community action and by supporting bills such as AB 449 (Ting), the CA vs Hate Hotline, and our collaborative efforts with the CDSS Stop the Hate grant. It is through these comprehensive measures that we will make a positive difference in the statistics we have seen persist for far too long.”

Initially created by local government and community leaders in the Bay Area in response to white supremacist rallies in Berkeley and San Francisco, UAHW is an opportunity for local residents to take action in their communities under the simple, yet powerful principle that, when cities and their residents work together against hate, we can restore respect and discourse, embrace the strength of our diversity, and build inclusive and equitable communities for all. Through local events, sharing stories, holding rallies, and connecting with local institutions, UAHW, which runs from November 12 to November 18, is about working together to help combat a national and statewide increase in reports of hate. In California, reported hate crimes have continued to rise in recent years, reaching their highest levels since 2001 — jumping more than 20% from 2021 to 2022.

More broadly, California has continued to be at the forefront of efforts to combat hate, whether through civic engagement, nation-leading investments in local anti-hate programs, and the first statewide commissionworking to track hate crimes and recommend policy. A key component of the state’s anti-hate initiatives includes the recent launch of CA vs Hate, a new multilingual statewide hotline and resource network that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate. CA vs Hate aims to help overcome barriers to reporting 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 they can access resources and support, including legal, financial, mental health, and mediation services.

In the first six months since its official launch, CA vs Hate has been contacted by hundreds of individuals. Key preliminary statistics from May through October include:

• CA vs Hate received 513 reports of hate acts across California. Of those reports, 233 were made over the phone and 280 were made via the online portal.
• More than 60% of all individuals who reported an act of hate accepted care coordination services, including direct and ongoing support accessing legal aid or counseling.
• More than 75% of California’s counties were represented in the preliminary data, up from approximately 40% in the first month following the official launch.
• Among the reasons cited for the report of hate, race (27%) and ethnicity (18%) continued to be the most reported bias motivations, followed by religion (13%) and sexual orientation (11%).
• 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.

CA vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal. Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833) 866-4283, or 833-8-NO-HATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or online at any time. Hate acts can be reported in 15 different languages through the online portal and in over 200 languages when calling the hotline. For individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in imminent danger, please call 911. For more information on CA vs Hate, please visit CAvsHate.org.

You can find more information on UAHW, upcoming events, and ways to help drive change in your community online at https://www.unitedagainsthateweek.org.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. CRD’s mission is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded programs and activities, and from hate violence and human trafficking. For more information, visit calcivilrights.ca.gov.

View Press Release (PDF) Civil Rights Department, Local Government and Community Partners Join Together for Launch of Sixth Annual United Against Hate Week