(LOS ANGELES, CA – 06/27/2023) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed the release of California State Attorney General Bonta’s 2022 Annual Hate Crime Report. CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush joined Attorney General Bonta at the press conference to voice his strong support for the committed measures taken to combat hate in California.
The report presents and analyzes statistics on hate crimes reported to law enforcement agencies throughout California and aims to help the public and law enforcement officials better understand hate crimes statewide and what can be done to address them. According to the report, from 2021 to 2022, overall reported hate crimes in California increased by 20.2%, with a total of 2,120 hate crime events being reported. Reports of crimes targeting religious minorities, including anti-Muslim and antisemitic hate crimes, made up over 200 of the cases reported, showing a significant increase in 2022.
SEE: Attorney General Bonta Releases 2022 Hate Crime Report, Highlights Continued Efforts to Combat Hate
In a statement read during the press conference, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“As the increase in reported numbers of hate crimes shows, there is still much more work to be done in addressing and eradicating hate in California. Hate against one community impacts all our communities, and our religious communities are not exempt, as witnessed by the reported increase in crimes targeting religious communities.
“The findings in this report outlining the overall increase in hate crimes in California are appalling but not surprising since they reflect the experiences relayed to us by our Muslim community and other communities that are most vulnerable to hate.
“Our statewide CAIR-CA civil rights department received over 600 intakes in 2022, with nearly 400 of those alleging various sorts of anti-Muslim bias or Islamophobia, and they received 25 reported anti-Muslim hate crimes and hate incidents in 2022. While these reported numbers reflect the AG’s report, we know that hate crimes and hate incidents continue to be underreported and unaccounted for.
“We thank Attorney General Bonta for his continuous efforts in working with all communities and organizations to address the rise in hate crimes firmly, and we look forward to collaborating on a unified front with all other communities under his leadership. Together, we can work towards a future where hate has no place in our state.”
In a statement, Attorney General Bonta said:
“This report is a stark reminder that there is still much work to be done to combat hate in our state. I urge local partners and law enforcement to review these findings and recommit to taking action.
“Our office continues to work with law enforcement, elected leaders, and community organizations across the state to increase awareness and bolster responses to hate crimes. An attack against one of us is an attack against all of us. The alarming increases in crimes committed against Black, LGBTQ+ and Jewish people for the second year in a row illustrates the need for our communities to join together unified against hate.
“It takes all of us working together to combat extremism and foster a safe and inclusive environment for all Californians. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we stand united — there is no place for hate in California.”
Highlighted information and resources in the report include an updated law enforcement bulletin, guidance to prosecutors, and fact sheets in more than two dozen languages to assist Californians in identifying and responding to hate crimes.
As a result of the increase in hate and bullying targeting people of faith as well as those of African, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, immigrant, Middle Eastern descent, CAIR-LA launched the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying to address these incidents more proactively.
To report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 or click here to file a report.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com