Reported hate crimes surge in LA County breaking a 21-year-record

Reported hate crimes in Los Angeles County surged to the highest level in 21 years, a new report said.

Hate crimes rose 18 percent in 2022, compared to the previous year, according to a report released this week by the LA County Commission on Human Relations.

These include record-breaking numbers of anti-transgender hate and anti-immigrant slurs, and an increase in hate crime violence.

While these types of violations have been on the surge for many years, the 143 percent increase since 2013 has set off alarm bells for the local government.

The report also showed a record-breaking rise in hate crimes against African American and Jewish communities.

As for the anti-Black violations that have been ongoing since the Tulsa massacre, and not to mention the George Floyd issue, the number increased by 34 percent. Hate crimes against Jews spiked by 59 percent.

Reported hate crimes in LA County reach 21-year high: report. https://t.co/Y5aEoqvmvw Click the image to read more:

— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) November 30, 2023

Hate crimes against minorities

What’s more unnerving is that three-quarters of the reported incidents were violent, hitting Latinos and African Americans the hardest. The report shows 121 violent hate crimes against Latinos, the highest rate of violence (93%) compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

The report shows a slight dip in the number of Anti-Asian hate crimes, with 61 incidents.

Meanwhile, crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community rose by 20 percent. Gay men were the targets in 81% of these violations.

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Transgender people were also targeted, with 91 percent of the 44 reported crimes identified as violent. Religion-based hate also increased by 41 percent.

LA County Commission on Human Relations Executive Director Robin Toma said the year 2022 witnessed a divide across the US in terms of racial, political, sexual orientation, religious and gender representations.

Robin Toma of @LACityHRC shows the murals commissioned by @LAvsHate including one in Pico Robertson where two Jewish men were shot earlier this year. Thank you Robin & our partners with LA County working to raise awareness & prevent hate crimes before they occur. pic.twitter.com/2YTbrVeTLq

— ADL California (@ADLCalifornia) November 30, 2023

Amid the alarming rise in these types of violations, the County’s LA vs Hate initiative serves as a beacon of hope. It has encouraged victims to speak up, officials said.

Supervisor Hilda Solis said the release of the report “comes at a somber time — a time in which we are seeing what is happening afar having a direct local impact here in LA County.”