On May 13th, 2025, more than 200 community leaders from 180 Stop the Hate partners across the state convened at the Capitol for the first-ever “Stop the Hate Day of Action.” We reached 92% of the California State legislature, educating them on the increasing rate of hate incidents across California, what that hate looks like on the ground, how Stop the Hate CA is addressing that hate, and the critical need for continued support for California residents in the face of hate.
Leaders from Stop the Hate, a multiracial network of nonprofit organizations committed to serving survivors of hate, participated in the Day of Action. They represented organizations serving Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), African American and Black, Latino, Indigenous, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ communities throughout California.
Community leaders met with representatives from more than 100 legislative offices to share how Californians are fighting hate and to promote the essential role of their organizations in building healthy and safe communities. “Our places of gathering are no longer safe and are under threat,” said Khydeeja Alam, executive director of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA) in her opening remarks. “Our elders are scared to walk alone. Our youth are asking if they belong. We’re here to remind lawmakers that hate is not over, but we’re also here to remind them that we are not powerless.”
Thank you to all those that spoke, including remarks from Assemblymember Mike Fong (AD-49), Chair of the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (AAPILC); Assemblymember Alex Lee (AD-24), Parliamentarian of the California AAPILC; Assemblymember Ash Kalra (AD-25); and former Assemblymember Phil Ting.
“Today is such a critical day for visibility at the capital,” said Assemblymember Fong. “Hate is not going away. With the rhetoric that’s out there now, Stop the Hate is more critical than ever in uplifting our communities and protecting our democracy. We must continue to invest in programs that serve all Californians, regardless of their race, religion, sexuality, or abilities.”
The #StoptheHateCA stories of resilience we hear from our statewide initiative supporting survivors of hate remind us of our “why,” why we’re committed to this work for the long haul.
It’s going to take all of us to build healthy and safe communities.
To ensure this work continues without a major gap, our partners continue to raise their voices in the state legislature about the urgency of strengthening and continuing this Stop the Hate program.
