LA County officials okay move to address anti-Asian hate

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an anti-Asian hate crime proposal. WEBSITE

LOS ANGELES— The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Holly Mitchell to explore the creation of a county eEquity and Diversity Fund in response to an increase in incidents of anti-Asian hate and violence. The effort will be done through the county’s existing Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative.

“The escalation of attacks against AAPI Americans has been a heartbreaking reminder of how far we have to go toward building a society where everyone can feel safe, accepted, and equal,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “LA County’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative was a response to the racism targeted at the Black community, but this is a framework we need to use to help the AAPI community now,”

The Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative guides the County’s efforts at fighting racism in all its forms. The initiative was created at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement and is especially geared toward the racism that systematically affects Black residents.

“I’m proud to join Supervisor Hahn on this important motion,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell. “The rise in hate crimes against the Asian American community and long-standing injustices impacting the Black community and communities of color, require an sustained investment to ending all forms of hate and systemic racism.”

The motion would also explore the feasibility of launching the LA County Equity and Diversity Fund with an initial investment of $1 million. The Fund would partner with research institutions to better understand, address, and end hate, bias, discrimination, and xenophobia against communities of color.

Read motion here: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/155178.pdf