By Edward Henderson
A meeting of the California Civic Media Program Advisory Board was briefly disrupted last month when an unknown participant hijacked the Zoom chat and repeatedly posted the racial slur “I HATE N**GERS!” before moderators removed the messages. The incident underscored a troubling reality highlighted in a new statewide report: anti-Black hate remains persistent in California, and Black residents continue to experience the highest rates of hate incidents.
Days later, the California Commission on the State of Hate released its 2024–2025 Annual Report on Feb. 24, warning that hate activity remains elevated statewide and that Black Californians continue to face disproportionate harm.
The findings come as California prepares to close its Stop the Hate program on June 30, 2026, after investing $250 million in public awareness, prevention and grassroots anti-hate work.
Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) says combating hate across the state requires cross-community alliances, particularly for Black Californians who experience the highest number of hate incidents.
“One of the critical things about hate is that in many cases, when hate arises against one group, that community is often left on its own to organize and defend itself. They’re left trying to fend off the attacks and educate others about their own humanity,” said Jackson, who spoke at a Feb. 24 informational hearing titled “State of Hate in California: Progress on Addressing Hate in California.”
Lawmakers organized that event just one day after the report’s release.
“We know that the best protection against hate — the best way to fight it — is solidarity,” Jackson continued. “It’s especially important for groups who are not being targeted at that moment to speak up for those who are.”
For nearly five years, California’s Stop the Hate program has funded community organizations across the state to prevent and respond to hate incidents and crimes. They have also supported the state’s non-emergency 2-1-1 network for the past 3 years to coordinate care through California vs Hate, a multilingual hotline and online reporting system designed to support victims of bias and discrimination.
“California vs Hate has been a lifeline for Californians targeted by bias and discrimination,” said Maribel Marín, Executive Director of 211LA. “The program was originally funded with limited-term dollars and is not currently slated for renewal. Without action during the budget process, the program could sunset on June 30, 2026.”
Marín said the need for the service remains urgent. Data from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research show nearly 3.1 million Californians experienced a hate act last year, and many reported unmet support needs — meaning they wanted help but didn’t know where to turn.
Through California vs Hate, 2-1-1 operators provide a safe, confidential place for people to report incidents and connect them with services such as legal aid, counseling and financial assistance. In 2024, the program received nearly 1,200 reports, with about two-thirds of callers requesting ongoing support.
“If eliminated, victims would lose a trusted place to turn, and California would lose a valuable tool for tracking hate trends — at a critical time when hate continues to rise across the state,” Marín said.
The report includes updated trend analysis, implementation progress and 23 interim policy recommendations aimed at strengthening California’s anti-hate infrastructure. While it does not include a new statewide prevalence survey this year, commissioners reaffirm that the most recent representative data show about 14% of Black adults in California experienced at least one act of hate within a one-year period — nearly double the statewide average.
Brian Levin, chair of the California Commission on the State of Hate, says hate has risen dramatically over the last decade, but California is leading the nation in responding to the surge.
“Our state has built up local support networks, we’re investing in increased safety for nonprofits, and we’re bringing together experts from all walks of life to help us put a stop to hate,” Levin said.
Key recommendations in the report include sustained funding for community-based organizations providing culturally competent victim services, requiring law enforcement agencies to designate hate crime coordinators, expanding culturally responsive mental health services, strengthening school curricula addressing online hate and bullying, and increasing public awareness campaigns ahead of major events such as elections.
“This report provides an important roadmap for how we can continue to meaningfully take action against hate,” said Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish.
The Civil Rights Department provides administrative and technical support to the Commission and operates the state’s hate reporting hotline and resource network.
“People across California continue to come together to support their neighbors and help build a state where everyone feels safe and welcome,” Kish added.