An increasing number of hate crimes are being reported in California, but convictions continue to remain low, said California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
At the April 6 United Against Hate summit at Fresno City College, Bonta noted that hate crimes are notoriously difficult to prosecute.
“They require proof of intent,” he says. “By design, a hate crime must originate with the hate element, which is often difficult to establish.”
“Hate crimes are an augmentation of sentencing: It is seen as something additional,” said Bonta. “You’re already charging assault or battery,” noting that a successful hate crime conviction might add 2–5 years to a sentence. He urged victims of a hate crime to gather up as much evidence as possible and to get details.
Low Conviction Rates
Last June, Bonta’s office released the 2022 Hate Crime in California Report. The report noted that reported hate crime events in the state increased 20.2% from 1,763 in 2021 to 2,120 in 2022. Hate crimes targeting Black people remained the most prevalent and increased 27.1% from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022, whereas anti-Asian hate crime events decreased 43.3% from 247 in 2021 to 140 in 2022.
Hate crimes in California involving a sexual orientation bias increased 29% from 303 in 2021 to 391 in 2022.
But of the more than 2,100 hate crimes reported in the state, only 52 resulted in hate crime convictions.
Most hate crimes reported never made it to court: Just 456 cases were filed by district attorneys and elected city attorneys, according to the report.
Divisive Political Rhetoric
In his formal remarks at the summit, Bonta said hate was not a new phenomenon. “It’s been with us since time immemorial. We need to take care of each other, look after one another, and be committed to the proposition that hate against any one of us is hate against all of us, and it’s unacceptable.” He said he feared for his mother, amid the rise of violent hate attacks targeting AAPI elderly people.
Bonta tacitly referred to the rise in hate crimes over the past seven months targeting both Jewish Americans and Arab Americans, brought on by the Israel-Hamas war. “The awful, unacceptable deaths of children and civilians that we’re seeing in Palestine and in Israel are unacceptable. And they’re affecting us here.”
The Trump Factor
Bonta also indirectly addressed Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has used divisive rhetoric on the campaign trail. The candidate has repeatedly claimed that “immigrants are poisoning the blood of America” and has promised to reinstate his “Muslim ban.”
“We have leaders who use the most toxic, xenophobic language. They give license to others.”
Bonta was asked a question by event organizer Daren Miller about the predicted chaos expected to ensue if Trump does not win. “One of the hallmarks of a democracy is the peaceful transfer of power. You cannot claim victory when you win, and malfeasance when you don’t,” said Bonta.
Distrust of Police
The United Against Hate summit was organized by the San Joaquin Valley Media Alliance and the Community Alliance newspaper in collaboration with the Fresno Center. The daylong event brought together more than 20 nonprofit organizations, which set up tables outside the venue to share their efforts toward ending hate.
Mike Rhodes, executive director of the Community Alliance, said that Fresno and neighboring cities were rife with hate activity, much of which is unreported.
“A lot of people here don’t trust the police,” said Rhodes, adding that when hate crimes and incidents are reported they often go unnoticed. The Fresno Police Department did set up an information table at the event.
The morning featured four concurrent workshops, including tools for bystanders witnessing a hate crime, what to do if you’re a victim of a hate crime and a “know your rights” discussion led by the Council on American Islamic Relations.
Walking While Black
Ameer Brooks, who presided over the workshop, recalled a recent event in which he was stopped by police in the city of Clovis. Brooks is Black and disabled.
“I was hobbling to the store,” he said. “Within a couple of minutes, the police stopped me, shined a light in my face, and asked a bunch of questions.
“When I got to the store, I was stopped by two more cops, who again questioned me, and then checked out my answers against the ones I had given the other cops.
“As I walked home, the cops followed me. They had obviously identified me as a suspect without any reason.”
Ethnic Media Services’ Stop the Hate initiative is made possible with funding from the California State Library in partnership with the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.
