Hate crimes continue to rise in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County officials indicated that the number of reported hate crimes in the county increased by 23%, from 641 in 2020 to 786 in 2021.

This is the highest since 2002, according to a new report released on Wednesday.

Robin Toma, director of the Human Relations Commission, said 2021 began as a year filled with hatred at the federal level, with the January 6 uprising at the U.S. Capitol. This showed that the country is deeply divided along the lines of race, religion, sexual orientation and gender, which continues to influence the detection of an increase in hate crimes.

The 2021 Hate Crimes Report indicates that the 786 hate crimes may be partly due to an increase in reporting encouraged by many organizations and the LA County Anti-Hate Campaign.

The report showed that hate crimes have risen by 105% since they hit an all-time low in 2013.

The overall rate of violence has increased from 68% to 74%, the highest rate in at least 20 years.

Hispanics accounted for 25% of racially motivated victims, and crimes against Hispanics increased by 10% from 106 to 117. They were the largest group most likely to be the target of violent racially motivated crimes. Anti-Mexican slander was used in 78% of these crimes.

Crimes related to anti-immigrant slurs soared 48% from 56 to 83, the highest ever.

Transgender victims experienced the highest rate of violence at 93%, followed by homophobes at 89%, racial crimes at 78% and religious crimes at 53%.

The 23 percent increase in hate crimes was largely due to a 17 percent increase in racist crimes. Crimes against African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Middle Easterners have skyrocketed. Racist crimes accounted for 58% of all hate crimes.

Gang-related hate crimes increased by 69%, from 32% to 54%. 74% were racial, with most of them targeting African Americans.

The city of Los Angeles continues to grow

LA Police Chief Michelle Moore said it’s unfortunate that hate crimes have continued to rise in 2022 from 13% at the start of the year to date across Los Angeles.

Moore said incidents of hate crimes against transgender and anti-transgender people have resurfaced, with 30 so far, up from 19 last year. “While we acknowledge that we did see a decrease in crime against transgender people in 2021 compared to 2020, unfortunately those numbers are back to us,” Moore said.

There has also been an increase in anti-Jewish crimes: 88 to date, up from 72 last year, and a continued increase against blacks, from 179 this year, up from 132 in 2021. number of hate crimes against Asians.

“But those numbers are still extremely high records,” Moore said.

While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the attacks occurred, records show that most hate crimes occurred in the subway service areas from West Hollywood to Boyle Heights, followed by the San Fernando Valley region.

“What we do know is that where we live, there are hate crimes happening in different parts of our county,” Toma said.

steps to take

Los Angeles County Attorney George Gascon emphasized that “a hate crime against one of us is a hate crime against all of us.”

He said that his office not only monitors hate crime cases, but also works on a process of education and prevention of hate crimes.

“With the help of the Commission on Human Relations and other partners, we have launched a two-year, post-conviction pilot program that aims to reduce hate crime by providing a permanent community to our community,” Gascon assured.

To view the full report, visit: https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/0234f496-d2b7-00b6-17a4-b43e949b70a2/caa802e9-00f0-455e-9c44-db7ef7a06e4c/2021%20LA%20County%20Hate %20Crime%20Report.pdf?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=