A meeting of the California Civic Media Program Advisory Board was briefly disrupted last month when an unknown participant hijacked the Zoom chat and repeatedly posted the racial slur “I HATE N**GERS!” before moderators removed the messages. The incident underscored a troubling reality highlighted in a new statewide report: anti-Black hate remains persistent in California, and Black residents continue to experience the highest rates of hate incidents.
Days later, the California Commission on the State of Hate released its 2024–2025 Annual Report on Feb. 24, warning that hate activity remains elevated statewide and that Black Californians continue to face disproportionate harm.
The findings come as California prepares to close its Stop the Hate program on June 30, 2026, after investing $250 million in public awareness, prevention and grassroots anti-hate work.
Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) says combating hate across the state requires cross-community alliances, particularly for Black Californians who experience the highest number of hate incidents.