Less hate crimes but not for LGBTQ+, Jewish and Muslims. Experts blame social media and Trump

Hate crimes in California may have decreased by 7.1% from 2022 to 2023, but last year saw a spike in homophobia and religious bias with anti-Black hate still the highest reported hate crime in the state. 

Hate crimes against the LGBTQ+, Muslim and Jewish communities increased the most last year, according to findings of the Department of Justice’s 2023 Hate Crime in California report, released last month by Attorney General Rob Bonta. 

Defined as a criminal act or attempted criminal act (murder, rape, robbery, etc.) against a person, group or entity based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion or ability, hate crime data in California have been collected by the Department of Justice (DOJ) since 1995. Law enforcement agencies are mandated to report hate crimes and incidents to the DOJ, which determines if the crimes were reported correctly and submits the findings to the FBI. The DOJ publishes an annual report that provides a detailed breakdown of hate crime statistics across the state. 

"We know that hate crimes are often underreported and that this hate crime report may not capture the full scope of what our communities are facing," said Cat Nou, Director of DOJ’s Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement (CARE) at a recent report briefing. Bonta formed CARE shortly after being appointed California Attorney General by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021, making history as the first Filipino-American to serve in the position.

“While it is heartening to see an overall decrease in hate crimes in 2023, some of our communities, including our LGBTQ+, Jewish and Muslim communities, continue to be targeted and endangered by hate at alarming rates,” said Attorney General Bonta. “An attack against one of us is an attack against all of us — there is no place for hate in California. Everyone has a part to play as we continue to fight prejudice and create safer communities in California. I urge everyone to review the data and resources available and recommit to standing united against hate.”

Over the past 10 years, reported hate crimes have increased by 159.9%. While the overall number of hate crimes in California decreased by 7.1% from 2,120 in 2022 to 1,970 in 2023, the report revealed hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community rose by 86.4% with anti-trans bias events increasing by 10.2%. Religious bias events increased by 30% last year as anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias rose 60% and anti-Jewish bias rose 52.9% in 2023. 

“The real game changer has been the advent of social media,” said David Myers, Sady and Ludwig Kahn professor of Jewish History at UCLA and director of the Initiative to Study Hate. “It allows for a tremendous amount of siloing. People say things they wouldn’t otherwise say in public. It’s a larger structural phenomenon that allows hate speech to grow into hate-based action.” 

Social media may be a feeding ground for hate, but Myers also credits former president Donald Trump for contributing to a culture of polarization and vilification. Far right extreme voices came out of the woodwork after Trump first announced his candidacy in 2015 with anti-semitism rates doubling in 2018. 

“When we talk about antisemitism today, much of the focus is on the left, which has to do with the Israel-Palestine [conflict], but people who are plotting to kill Jews are Christian national extremists,” said Myers. “The same is true for people who are planning to kill or do harm to Muslims and Palestinians. Jews and Muslims are both seen as part of what the far right deems the great replacement.”

Terra Russell-Slavin, Chief Impact Officer of the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center, also considers 2015 a year that marked a rise of hate crimes towards their community. 

“This is tied to a very extreme right movement to target and attack the LGBTQ community and particularly the trans community,” said Russell-Slavin. “This year we’ve seen more than 500 pieces of legislation introduced at state houses across the country seeking to criminalize doctors for providing gender affirming care, prevent people from being able to say LGBTQ in schools, and the list goes on.”

Founded in 1969 by a group of activists wanting to keep queer and trans people safe, the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center is the largest LGBTQ organization in the world with ten locations throughout Los Angeles County. Providing a multi-generational community with everything from housing for homeless youth to dance classes for seniors, the LGBTQ Center also assists hate crimes victims with mental health, advocacy and legal services. The Center is currently focused on trans and LGBTQ bias reduction with the record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in 2023, including Florida’s ban on K-12 classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.

While anti-Black bias remains the highest reported hate crime in California, the report shows that racial bias crimes decreased by 21.6% last year. Reported anti-Black hate crimes fell from 652 in 2022 to 518 in 2023, a decrease of 20.6%. Anti-Latinx crimes fell from 210 in 2022 to 199 in 2023, a decrease of 5.2%. Anti-Asian bias events fell from 140 in 2022 to 125 in 2023, a decrease of 10.7%.

“While the data on hate crime reporting in California appears to show a decrease in 2023, we know firsthand that it’s still happening among Asian Americans,” said Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. “There is under-reporting, especially amongst those with limited English proficiency. Law enforcement at all levels needs to ensure language accessibility and cultural sensitivities to ensure that community members feel safe reaching out for help.”

Reporting hate crimes is essential to ensuring the accuracy of the DOJ's annual report. California Civil Rights Department’s California vs Hate campaign is a non-emergency hate incident and hate crime reporting system committed to making California a more safe and inclusive place for all. Focused on protecting residents from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public spaces and from hate violence and human trafficking, California vs Hate allows hate incident or crime victims or witnesses to report it by calling 1-833-8-NO-HATE or visiting CAvsHate.org. Online reporting is available in 15 languages and the hotline offers support in over 200 languages.

“We are not connected to law enforcement,” said Becky L. Monroe, Deputy Director of California Civil Rights Department. “We do collect information and share that information, but our information comes directly from people who are targeted for hate or organizations that may represent them.”

CA vs Hate is staffed by culturally competent, trauma-informed professionals that connect victims or witnesses of hate crimes or incidents with resources, identify options and provide next steps. If callers want to report a crime to law enforcement, staff are trained to walk them through the process. All reports are confidential and can be made anonymously unless required by law. Callers most frequently report discriminatory treatment, verbal harassment and derogatory names or slurs at their residence, workplace and in public..

“Other people may not feel safe or comfortable going to law enforcement,” said Monroe. “And that’s okay. You are not required to go to law enforcement if you come to us.”

The 2023 Hate Crime in California report indicates a slight increase in hate crimes referred for prosecution, rising from 647 in 2022 to 679 in 2023, with 463 cases filed for prosecution, of which 322 were specifically filed as hate crimes. Covering Bay Area counties like Santa Clara, which reported 165 hate crimes, to San Diego, which had 124 reported hate crimes, the report found L.A. County had 664 reported hate crimes in 2023. 

Bonta said the DOJ will continue to work with law enforcement, elected leaders and community organizations across the state to keep our communities safe through education, prevention, and enforcement.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.