Civil Rights Department, LA vs Hate, Local Government, and Community Partners Rally for Peace and Unity for Seventh Annual United Against Hate Week

LOS ANGELES – The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) — in partnership with LA vs Hate, Not In Our Town — today joined with local government and community partners for the launch of the seventh annual United Against Hate Week (UAHW). The coalition rallied together ahead of the International Day of Peace to spread messages of hope and vigilance in the fight against hate.

“We’re proud to join with partners up and down California to take a stand against hate,” said CRD 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

UAHW is a call for local civic action to stop the 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 International Day of Peace and to confront the rise of hate and divisive rhetoric historically connected to elections.

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 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 is set to run from September 21 to September 27, is about working together to help combat a national and statewide increase in reports of hate. In California, reported hate crimes have nearly doubled from 1,015 in 2019 to 1,970 in 2023.

California vs Hate

California continues 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 commission working to track hate crime and recommend policy. A key component of the state’s anti-hate initiatives includes last year’s launch of California vs Hate, California’s first-ever 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 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.

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 are in imminent danger, please call 911. For more information on CA vs Hate, please visit CAvsHate.org.

For a list of events taking place across the country, visit the United Against Hate Week 2024 Event Calendar. You can find photos and videos from the press conference here.

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, LA vs Hate, Local Government, and Community Partners Rally for Peace and Unity for Seventh Annual United Against Hate Week