New Report Reveals Sharp Rise in Hate Incidents Targeting Black, Latino, Jewish, and Asian Communities in LA County

The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations released its first-ever Hate Incident Report, showing non-criminal hate acts rose 35% from 609 in 2022 to 821 in 2023. Hate incidents, which include verbal abuse, harassment, and offensive displays, grew sharply across schools, colleges, and universities, with a 234% rise from 59 to 197 cases. Incidents tied to white supremacist ideology jumped 124%, from 33 to 74, and Middle East conflict-related incidents surged 2,150%, from 2 to 45. 

“Hate incidents can be just as traumatic for victims as hate crimes, and can perpetuate systemic inequality; so all of us must report them, not accept them as 'normal',” said Robin Toma, the commission’s executive director. The commission noted that hate crimes reached their highest level in 43 years in 2023, with reported hate crimes up 45% to 1,350 from 930 the prior year. 

The new incident report offers deeper insight, revealing growing bias-driven acts at educational institutions, linked to the Middle East conflict, and driven by white supremacist ideology. “Understanding hate incident data along with hate crime data is a crucial new dimension for effective prevention and intervention policies and action,” Toma added. Black people were targeted in 52% of all racial/ethnic/national origin hate incidents, rising 12% from 211 to 237 cases.

Incidents targeting Jewish persons rose 153%, from 66 to 167, making up 90% of religious-motivated incidents. Hate incidents motivated by sexual orientation grew 24%, from 119 to 148, including rising attacks against gay males, lesbians, and LGBT individuals. Latino/as were the second-most targeted racial group, with 69 reported incidents comprising 15% of all racial incidents; 60% included anti-immigrant slurs. 

Asian Americans made up 15% of racial incidents but saw a decline from 76 to 66, with 33% targeting Chinese persons. Gender-motivated incidents increased 53%, from 36 to 55; 40 were anti-transgender and 13 anti-female. Disability-related incidents grew from 3 to 11. The data came from law agencies, LAvsHate, schools, and community organizations.

Link: NBC Los Angeles