Los Angeles County, often celebrated for its diversity, is grappling with a grim reality: hate crimes against Black residents have reached unprecedented levels.
In 2023, reported anti-Black hate crimes rose by 8%, from 297 in 2022 to a record-breaking 320. This alarming trend reflects a troubling contradiction in a county that prides itself on multiculturalism and inclusion.
Black Angelenos, who constitute only 9% of the county’s population, accounted for a staggering 49% of victims in racial hate crimes. This gross overrepresentation underscores the systemic racism that continues to plague the region. While hate crimes against other racial and ethnic groups also saw slight increases, the disproportionate targeting of African Americans remains a pressing concern.
The most frequent offenses in anti-Black hate crimes were vandalism (28%), simple assault (23%), and aggravated assault (21%). Notably, 67% of these crimes were violent, a sobering reminder of the physical and psychological toll on victims. Public spaces were the most common locations for these crimes (36%), followed by residences (25%) and schools and businesses (16% each).
Schools remain a hotspot for racial violence. In 2023, anti-Black hate crimes in educational institutions increased from 59 to 61 incidents. More than half of all hate crimes in schools were racially motivated, with African Americans constituting 43% of the victims. These statistics highlight the urgent need to address racism in environments meant to foster growth and learning.
The perpetrators of these hate crimes also reveal a complex picture of racial tensions. For the second consecutive year, Latino/a individuals represented the largest group of suspects (52%), followed by White individuals (41%). In 11% of cases, evidence of white supremacist ideology was present, while another 11% were gang-related, showing the varied sources of anti-Black violence in the county.
Los Angeles County leaders have expressed a commitment to addressing these hate crimes, but the road ahead is long. Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, a prominent advocate for racial equity in the region, emphasized the profound human impact behind the statistics, urging action beyond surface-level responses.
“When we look at these numbers, we must remember they are not just data points—they represent people: our neighbors, our friends, our family members. This is not happening in some far-off place; it’s happening here, in our schools, our public spaces, and our communities,” Mitchell stated.
Sheriff Robert Luna echoed this call, highlighting efforts to educate residents about hate crimes and enforce accountability. Programs within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department aim to educate inmates about the consequences of hate, an initiative intended to disrupt cycles of prejudice.
Meanwhile, newly-elected District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized the importance of enforcing accountability through consistent prosecutions and meaningful consequences for hate crime offenders.
“What message are we sending if hate crimes continue to rise, yet prosecutions and penalties are missing from the equation,” Hochman questioned during a press conference releasing the results.
“We must send an unmistakable signal that while we protect free speech to its fullest extent, any illegal conduct motivated by hate will not be tolerated. Whether through diversion programs, enhanced penalties, or severe consequences for violent acts like arson or assault, perpetrators of hate crimes will face justice. The goal is not only to address these crimes after they occur but to dismantle the pipeline that leads individuals to commit such acts. This is about holding offenders accountable while simultaneously investing in education and prevention efforts to ensure hate never becomes a hate crime.”
The rise in hate crimes against Black Angelenos mirrors acts of terrorism experienced by marginalized communities worldwide. Both are rooted in identity-based targeting, designed to instill fear, suppress resistance, and maintain societal hierarchies. In the same way terrorists attack villages or cultural sites to erase identities and assert dominance, hate crimes against Black Americans aim to terrorize individuals and communities through violence, vandalism, and intimidation.
While the forms of violence differ, the underlying tactics are strikingly similar: both rely on fear, public displays of violence, and systemic neglect to perpetuate oppression. Whether it is the destruction of sacred indigenous lands or the defacement of Black-owned businesses, these acts are aimed at destabilizing communities and perpetuating cycles of marginalization.
The rise in anti-Black hate crimes in Los Angeles County underscores the urgent need for systemic change and collective action. Local leaders and community members have been urged to confront the reality that hate crimes targeting Black Americans represent a form of domestic terrorism, using fear and violence to destabilize communities and perpetuate oppression. These acts of hatred, much like acts of terrorism seen globally, threaten to undermine the social fabric of diverse communities by targeting individuals based on their identity.
“We have to confront the microaggressions, implicit biases, and systemic racism that fuel this violence long before they escalate into hate crimes,” Mitchell concluded.
“It takes courage to report a hate crime, but even greater courage to stand against the conditions that allow them to persist. Racism isn’t innate; it’s a learned behavior, and if we are serious about dismantling it, we must invest in educating our youth, holding offenders accountable, and addressing the systemic inequalities embedded in our institutions. This is about ensuring that every Angeleno can feel safe and valued in the place they call home.”
This year the Commission’s LA vs Hate initiative officially launched the Combating Anti-Blackness Training Series, designed by South Central Los Angeles leaders to help build capacity to address institutional racism and empower communities to stand against hate. The comprehensive and interactive training focuses on combating anti-Blackness by increasing an understanding of how policy, programs and resources have historically and systematically marginalized Black, Brown, Indigenous and Immigrant community residents.
To report a hate incident in Los Angeles using the “LA vs Hate” initiative, you can call 211 on the phone, which is a free, confidential hotline available 24/7; you can also report online through the 211 LA website; and reports can be made anonymously.
