Attorney General Rob Bonta said a new report found that hate crimes in California rose 20.2 percent from 2021 to 2022, a figure that could be an understatement as many incidents go unreported.
During a roundtable discussion in Fresno, where he was accompanied by the mayor of that city, Jerry Dyer, he specified that attacks on people of African descent increased by 27 percent, while hate crimes motivated by prejudices based on sexual orientation increased by 29 percent.
“We have data from the California Department of Justice, and hate crimes are increasing year after year in all categories,” he said.
“In California, we must stand united against hate and extremism. There is no place for hate in California,” Bonta said.
“I am proud to stand with our local partners to identify best practices, foster community engagement, and work toward community-driven solutions to eliminate hate and extremism. Our message to Californians: we see you, we support you, and we will do our part to ensure every Californian feels safe in their cities and communities,” he added.
Fresno County is no stranger to hate crimes, with a total of 23 incidents reported last year, including 13 in the city of Fresno.
Earlier this year, popular Fresno restaurant Tasty Thai joined the growing list and was forced to close after racist attacks and claims the owners were serving dog meat.
“When I realized how bad it was, I knew we had to put safety first and that’s why we closed. And the reason is because my parents are immigrants for 40 years and they don’t even know what social media is,” David Rasavong, owner of Tasty Thai restaurant, told officials.
State and local leaders have focused on solutions that include a stronger response to hate and bias, as well as strengthening prosecution and enforcement.
“Unfortunately, when we talk about the issue of hate and hate incidents and crimes, it often goes unreported, to the point where it’s difficult for law enforcement to get a true measure of the impact,” said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.
In May 2021, Attorney General Bonta launched the Office of Racial Justice, which supports the California Department of Justice in advancing the civil rights of all Californians, thereby playing a critical role in combating hate and bias in the state.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, ayou administeredred by the CaliFornia State Library.
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