Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey
SACRAMENTO — The Stop the Hate Program continues to raise awareness about the importance of people uniting to restore respect for each other, embrace the strength of diversity and build safe and equitable communities in California.
More than 200 community leaders from across the state gathered at the State Capitol May 13 to reaffirm that message at the first-ever “Stop the Hate Day of Action,” a coordinated effort to raise awareness about hate incidents and hate crimes.
Taneicia Herring, government relations specialist for the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference, was one of the participants who educated policymakers about the increasing rates of hate incidents and the need for continued resources and support.
“Every community is affected by hate,” Herring said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that hate will continue to increase. So, we need as many resources as we can get to fight against it.”
The Stop the Hate program is a statewide initiative of 180 organizations dedicated to serving survivors of hate and fostering healthy neighborhoods. Funded by organizations like the California Department of Social Services, the program is designed to combat hate crimes and discrimination by providing direct services, prevention, and intervention to victims.
Herring said the Legislative Day event was organized by the Asian American and Pacific Islander Equity Alliance. The alliance supports 42 organizations representing people living with disabilities as well as the Asian American and Pacific Islander, African American and Black, Latino, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities.
The event began with opening remarks and training at the UC Center. The program included remarks by Assemblyman Mike Fong, D-Alhambra, chair of the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus; Assemblyman Alex Lee, D-San Jose; Assemblyman Ash Kalra, D-San Jose; and former Assemblyman Phil Ting.
“Today is such a critical day for visibility at the Capitol,” Fong said. “Hate is not going away. With the rhetoric that’s out there now, Stop the Hate is more critical than ever. We must continue to invest in programs that serve all Californians, regardless of their race, religion, sexuality, or abilities.”
The participants met with lawmakers at the State Capitol, a first step in the process of requesting that the program be re-funded.
Stop the Hate was created in response to increased hate activity in California. In 2021, $110 million was allocated to community organizations providing services to individuals and communities frequently targeted by hate incidents.
In April, the California Civil Rights Department — in partnership with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research’s California Health Interview Survey — presented the outcomes of a survey on the frequency of hate activity across the state.
Based on a series of questions sponsored by the Civil Rights Department, the new survey findings show an estimated 2.6 million Californians directly experienced at least one act of hate over a year between 2022 and 2023.
“People across our state continue to experience hate and discrimination well beyond what is reported to law enforcement,” Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish said. “It takes all of us working together to live up to our values of respect and compassion for every Californian.”
Rosalyn Green, who founded the Monterey County Black Caucus in 2020, was another participant in the Stop the Hate Action Day event.
The organization, based in Seaside, received a Stop the Hate Grant and used the funding to organize a Juneteenth holiday event.
“I thought it was an amazing day,” Green told California Black Media. “For me, it was about making connections and strengthening the connections and relationships. It’s part of what is needed to accomplish the mission, which is to stop the hate.”
The Black population in Monterey County is 3% — with 7.3% living in Seaside alone. Most of the city’s Black residents originally moved there as families of service members assigned to Fort Ord, the former U.S. Army base that closed in 1994.
In 2023, the city of Monterey reported four hate crimes. including three vandalism incidents and one road rage incident. The annual “Juneteenth Jubilee” event helps promote Black businesses, organizations and culture. At the same time, they share their culture and heritage with non-Black residents.
“All people from all backgrounds attend the jubilee,” Green said. “When people know who you are, they are able to accept you better. There are all types of stereotypes about Black folks. We don’t want people to dwell in a place of fear.”
The program has touched more than two million people through prevention and intervention services. It served over 14,000 people through individual direct services, such as mental health, counseling, legal representation and case management.
The funding for the Stop the Hate program runs out in June 2026. Green said it is “critical” that the program stays intact.
“We’re already struggling and preparing to work from a deficit,” Green said. “We need that investment back into our communities so that we can thrive and not just survive.”
Antonio Ray Harvey is a reporter for California Black Media.
