Assembly Committee Takes on Racism, Hate and Xenophobia
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), chaired a hearing of the California Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia on June 25.
Titled “The State of Hate and Charting a Path Forward,” the hearing, held at the State Capitol, was a three-panel discussion that examined incidents of racial, ethnic and other forms of aggression experienced by different racial groups in the state.
“Over the last five years, California has experienced the highest rates of hate and discrimination in our state’s history,” Jackson said.
The Assembly Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia was established to confront the biases, perceptions and systems fueling division in California.
The panel discussion was centered on three subjects: the State of Hate and Xenophobia, the Voice of Protected Classes, and Future Equality.
Participants on the first panel were Damon Brown, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Assistant Attorney General and Attorney General Bonta’s Legal and Policy Advisor on Civil Rights and Police Practices. Brian Levin, the chairperson of the California Commission on the State of Hate, accompanied Brown.
Rick Callender, the President of the California Hawaii State Conference, outlined what he perceives as “systemic racism” as well as hate crimes that are “pervasive across multiple dimensions.”
Callender shared that systemic racism is harmful because it’s not just about the individual acts of prejudice or discrimination — it is embedded into the fabric of society, operating on large-scale societal systems, practices, ideologies, and programs.
Callender pointed to the criminal justice system and the recent data collected by the California Racial Identity Profiling Advisory Board (RIPA).
Callender testified that RIPA’s annual report states that Black drivers are stopped 126% more frequently than expected, and Black and Latino youth are disproportionately impacted.
“Police use force, handcuffs or firearms against Black youth at an alarmingly high rate, 45% for ages 12 to 14, compared to 19% for White youth,” Callender told the committee.
Callender added that the California Legislature should consider looking at police oversight and reform to prevent racial profiling.
Administered by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the Stop the Hate program is an initiative aimed at combating hate incidents and hate crimes.
“It’s clear these efforts are still gravely needed in our community. We need this kind of hate prevention dollars to be able to address these things in our communities,” Callender said.
“This is what today is all about. Uplifting the voices of protected classes and proclaiming solidarity as we face a common enemy,” Jackson said.