Report an Incident

STOP THE HATE IN ACTION

180 grassroots partners serve and support survivors of hate in five main regions across California. This work can take many forms, from providing mental health counseling after a hate incident and engaging in difficult conversations on race with youth, to facilitating workshops to help people heal from traumatic experiences, and much more. 

14
13
12
15
10
211 Campaign
3
1
2
4
5
7
8
11
9
16

HOW CALIFORNIANS ARE FIGHTING AGAINST HATE

“Go back to your country!”
In Santa Maria, Oscar and his family from Mexico were consistently harassed by their neighbor, a white woman. “Go back to your country!” she would yell. It got worse when she began stealing their plants, bicycles, and even their dog. When they asked for their belongings back in limited English, she became violent and hurt Oscar’s friends who were visiting. 
Oscar was traumatized and unable to function at work, leaving him financial insecure – unable to pay the bills. Since Oscar himself wasn’t physically assaulted, he wasn’t considered a direct victim and didn’t qualify for compensation.
One Community Action (OCA) helped the family speak with law enforcement, get access to therapy services and apply for legal aid. With further support from OCA, a restraining order against the neighbor was approved, prohibiting any further contact, and the family received financial support to help with recovery. 
Oscar, his family and friends are now fully recovered from their violent experience, and feel much safer knowing there are programs to support them if hate were to return.
“Do you even understand English?”
In Oakland, Sara immigrated to the United States at 16 years old to escape violence in her home country. At work, she experienced racial microaggressions from her coworkers. “Go back to your country” they would say, “Do you even understand English…” At home, Sara was abused by her husband, who threatened to call ICE on her and her son.
Sara reached out to the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI), who led her to a domestic violence shelter and connected her to a trauma-informed therapist.
Sara is now learning how to process her trauma and develop healthy coping mechanisms to better her mental health. Seeing how much CERI helped her, Sara also enrolled her son in their youth support group.
“CERI feels like home to me; [my son and I] wouldn’t be able to do this without them.” Ready to embark on the next chapter of her life, Sara is enrolling in nursing school, a long-term dream of hers, and will forever be grateful for all of CERI’s help.
The Need for Unity
Esteban, an immigrant from Mexico, works full time at his landscaping job in Santa Barbara. At work one day, a man yelled, “Go back to your country!” before violently attacking Esteban and leaving him temporarily disabled. Though Esteban reported the assault, the police were unhelpful.
He started having nightmares and extreme anxiety. On top of trying to manage the trauma from the assault, he was physically unable to get back to his job, leaving him struggling with rent and food insecurity.
A friend referred Esteban to Learn, Engage, Advocate, Partner (LEAP). LEAP’s family advocate, who is trained in trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices, and bilingual in English and Spanish, recognized Esteban’s need for immediate support. They provided him with a Spanish speaking therapist and connected him to Unity Shoppe, a food distribution center where Esteban got access to nutritious meals and clothing.
Now, Esteban is slowly getting back to work. In moments where he starts to feel hopeless, he know he can always reach out to LEAP’s family advocate, who has guaranteed their continuous support.
Fostering Reform and Repair
At a Santa Barbara school, where less than 1% of the students are Black, a Black student was assaulted by classmates mimicking the lethal police attack on George Floyd, and in another case, a student made a TikTok video comparing Black students to monkeys and apes. 
Gateway Educational Services joined community members, students, and parents to call out the rampant anti-Black racism. The outcry led to an independent audit of the district that found that the lack of school response had fully normalized racism against Black students. 
Today, the district has implemented reforms, including staff training and installing an independent oversight committee. Gateway continues to support Black students and their families who suffer lingering trauma, and organize anti-racist assemblies in schools to speak to students about hateful language and foster dialog between students from different communities.
“Making America Great Again One B*aner at a Time”
Brenda, a Hispanic mother, was steps from her door when the attack came from behind. She crumpled under the blows, her attacker’s words echoing the racist hate, “Making America great again, one b*aner at a time.”
The hospital released her, but the fear she felt in her own neighborhood was overwhelming. Her injuries kept her out of work for weeks. The trauma from the assault lasted much longer. But Brenda did not surrender to hate.
The YWCA of San Diego County became a lifeline, providing safety planning, financial assistance, and critical resources. With their help, Brenda began to heal.
It was a difficult journey, but Brenda is back at her job and continues working through the lingering distress and trauma. She’s finally walking in her neighborhood again, and it’s beginning to feel like home once more. Grateful for the support she received as she recovered from this horrific incident, Brenda shared, “Thank you, YWCA, I have a renewed hope for humanity and I know that joy, safety, and peace are still possible.”
A Father’s Fight for Survival
Tino, a gay Latino in his 50s, always sensed his neighbor’s hostility—glares, muttered insults, and an uneasy tension that lingered every time they crossed paths. One day, that hostility exploded into violence. In his own home, and in front of his two sons, Tino’s neighbor attacked him with brutal force.
The assault was punctuated by homophobic slurs and death threats. Fueled by fear for his children’s safety, Tino fought back. The trauma of that night left Tino with two broken arms and debilitating PTSD. Unable to return to their home, he and his boys were forced to leave everything behind.
Tino found a lifeline at The San Diego LGBT Community Center. A counselor helped Tino begin EMDR therapy, a treatment designed to help survivors of trauma process painful memories, and reduce the power of flashbacks and nightmares. His two sons also received counseling, giving them space to heal from what they had witnessed and reminding them that they weren’t alone.
Today, they are rebuilding their lives with the strength of community at their side. What once felt like an ending is now a story of resilience and recovery.
“I truly felt seen and supported.”
Amina, a Somali youth in San Diego, experiences hate simply for wearing her hijab. “I felt alone and unsure of how to respond to the harassment I faced.” San Diego is home to the second largest Somali community in the country, but they continue to face discrimination.
Somali Family Services serves this growing community reaching over 25,000 annually to provide direct services, legal rights workshops and assistance to families and individuals to navigate reporting incidents of hate experienced.
After participating in their anti-hate program, Amina shared, “It gave me more than just information, it gave me confidence. I learned about my rights, how to report hate crimes, and where to find mental health support. What made the biggest difference was knowing that there’s a whole network of people and resources dedicated to protecting and uplifting our community. It was the first time I truly felt seen and supported.”
“… we all have a voice.”
The Stop the Hate program recognizes the importance of training more individuals in California to interrupt hate when they see or experience it. That’s why Alliance San Diego launched the “Start with Dignity” workshops, developed to provide participants with the tools to combat human rights violations, and teach essential ways to protect themselves and others. 
In the last two years, these workshops have trained over 1,000 new “defenders of dignity” across the San Diego region. One participant shared, “If you ever felt like you witnessed a problem and you didn’t know where to start, you can always come to this program, because we all have a voice.”
The “Start with Dignity” workshop also supported Kae, a young transgender leader, to use human rights as a tool to help San Diego inhabitants. Youth leaders, like Kae, continue to use the resources provided to uplift issues harming and dehumanizing marginalized communities.
A Chinatown Chase Down
As Vietnamese-American Franny was walking her dog through her Los Angeles Chinatown neighborhood, she saw an elderly Asian man being brutally beaten across the street. She knew she had to intervene, but the attacker locked eyes on his new target, and chased her down the street. “I ran for my life, I even threw myself into oncoming traffic to get away.”
Franny saw a patrol car and begged the sheriffs to arrest the attacker, but they said it was out of their jurisdiction. Even after Franny called 911, the cops showed up an hour later and refused to take her statement because “You’re not the victim. They verbally said they were going to kill you, but they didn’t hit you.” The elderly Asian man was unable to communicate with the cops in English and decided not to press charges.
Emotionally scarred, Franny reached out to World Mission University (Through Peace) to report both the hate crime she witnessed and the hate incident she endured. Now, Franny shares her story at hate crime workshops for the elderly Asian community; “I would not have healed without their help.”
“You’re the problem!”
Charmaine, a Black immigrant, needs a nearby gym with a warm pool to maintain her health as someone with a disability. However, during one of her visits, her wheelchair got caught on the gym mat and she almost fell over.
This experience caused Charmaine’s heart rate to spike, so she decided to take the elevator to notify the gym staff. However, the elevator stalled and trapped her inside. Charmaine frantically looked for cameras to alert security, but they were nowhere to be found. She pressed the emergency button, called the front desk and screamed out for help, eventually calling 911 in utter desperation.
When Charmaine returned to the gym a few days later, she was met with hatred: “You know you’re the problem! Don’t come back here, this is a gym for real athletes!” Feeling angry and unsure of what to do next, as this was the only gym close to her home, Charmaine went to Los Angeles City Hall to tell her story. 
There, she was given the 211 LA hotline number and connected with Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF). They helped Charmaine get into the Mobility program, and provided resources for free transportation and gym memberships. Charmaine now feels safe and free, knowing she has support if harassment were to occur again.
Take it off or leave!
At the start of Ramadan, Afghan-American Maissa began wearing her hijab to work as a grocery store employee in the Valley. But her manager was not happy about it. Maissa explained she had the right to religious expression, to which he responded, “either you take off the hijab, or you have to leave work”.
Maissa notified HR and left. A different store manager called her soon after, explaining she actually was allowed to wear her hijab at work. Maissa expressed that she felt anxious, uncertain and scared about her safety and comfort given the first manager’s commentary. When the manager on the phone offered no reassuring language, she decided to stay home, but he retaliated and said “because of your refusal to return to work, you’re now at risk for termination”.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – LA advised her on how to exercise her rights. The next day, Maissa returned with a religious accommodation letter to officially notify her employers. Now, Maissa feels protected at work and has since been free of any discrimination thanks to CAIR LA’s legal advice.
“This is what it means to be Black.”
Youth from communities of color, immigrant communities, LGBTQIA+ groups and others are often targeted in hate incidents. Young people are able to play peer-to-peer roles in hate prevention efforts to others their age. Jenesse Center created Jeneration J Lounges: safe spaces in more than a dozen L.A. schools and colleges where young people can gather to discuss challenges involving hate, build connections and safeguard their mental health. 
Projects like Raise Your Voice for Peace raise awareness of the damaging effects of racist language and help young people understand the power of bystander intervention. Brandy, 17, described the impact of the project: “Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of people who looked like me. I had to deal with passive aggressive comments. Projects like this help me say, ‘This is me,’ as opposed to someone who doesn’t look like me saying, ‘This is what it means to be Black.’ ”
Safety is a Privilege
Transgender high school student, Megan, found herself a target of constant harassment. For months, a group of kids would bang on her front door and run away. One day, Megan realized she recognized the boys from a nearby park. They had verbally attacked her before, calling her “Tr*nny! Fa**ot!”, saying she looks like a man. Megan went to confront them with her dad, recording the experience on her phone.
Noticing one of them had a BB gun, Megan’s dad contacted the police. The cop teased them, “You’re scared of little kids, really?” The family filed an official complaint, but as the police did little to help, the harassment continued. Megan’s family no longer felt safe in their own home.
Megan’s mom reached out to The LGBTQ Center Long Beach for help and got connected to their legal department. The counselors encouraged Megan’s parents to call the police again, this time utilizing the camera footage of the harassment. The police eventually identified the kids, and one of their parents asked to meet with Megan’s parents.
The Center facilitated the meeting. Megan’s mom expressed: “The only place we have to feel safe is our home, and your kid and his friends took that from us.” The harassment finally stopped after 4 months. Megan and her family are grateful for The Center’s support, resources, and counseling to reclaim their safety.
“Learn English if you want to be here!”
Ellis, an elderly Afghan man who speaks limited English, was riding the bus in Sacramento. A passenger yelled: “Learn English if you want to be here! Otherwise, go back to your country!” Ellis was confused and scared, when suddenly a bystander, James, stepped in to deescalate the situation. He referred Ellis to Lao Family Community Development (LFCD) where James himself had learned how to intervene in situations like this.
Ellis learned about his rights, how to identify hate, and what to do in the future. He shared his story and realized he wasn’t alone in his experience. Feeling grateful, he shared, “I didn’t know there were people who cared so much about helping someone like me. Now I feel safer and more prepared.”
“…you dog-eating mother-effer“
David Rasavong and his family started to receive an endless wave of hate and death threats after a woman falsely accused their family-run restaurant, Tasty Thai, of “serving dog meat”. She yelled, “Go back to the country you came from you dog-eating mother-effer.” They felt they had no choice but to close their restaurant as they feared for their safety.
The Fresno Center helped David and his family to get the resources and support from local government and law enforcement to recover their business and re-open in a new location. “When you have people that have such disgust for you and have such disgusting accusations, it is hard to get out of that feeling. Once the word got out, once people started to realize what actually happened—the amount of love and kindness we received, that is something I wish for everyone. Today marks the end of a chapter filled with hate and the beginning of a new one that’s filled with love.”
“You Chinese are everywhere now!”
Maggie is a college student who regularly uses public transportation. One day, when she was on the train, a man yelled, “You f*cking Chinese are everywhere now!” before pushing her to the ground. In shock and unsure of how to process her violent experience, Maggie sought out help.
Lao Family Community Development (LFCD) provided immediate support through their Victim Advocate, who guided Maggie on how to report the incident as a hate crime. The staff member offered step-by-step instructions on filing an online police report, emphasizing the importance of including detailed information like the location, date, time, and a valid email address for follow-up.
LFCD also educated Maggie on how to recognize hate incidents and hate crimes, in case this were to ever happen again. Maggie felt empowered to take action by spreading awareness and information with her community, creating a ripple effect of knowledge and prevention. Maggie feels safer knowing her and her loved ones know how to recognize hate when they see and experience it.
In Fear of Walking Alone
“If I walk by myself, there is nobody to call,” said Barbara, a 94 year-old woman who uses a walker to ambulate in Sacramento. After the rise in hate against the elderly AAPI community during the pandemic, many are still in fear of being violently attacked on the streets and suffering from social isolation. 
For ACC Senior Services (ACC), who have been serving the elderly in Sacramento since 1972, building community can be the most important tool for preventing hate. In 2025, ACC organized 2,500 walks to safely accompany seniors through walking escorts or with transportation, with some elderly people using the service on a weekly basis.
Barbara is one of them and describes feeling safer when joined by an ACC volunteer. She describes how, “Most of my friends are gone. Some of them can’t even get out of bed and they lock themselves in. You shouldn’t lock yourself in.”
“Little terrorist”
14-year-old Mahmoud asked his teacher, Mrs. Daniels, about an after-school learning program when she referred to him as a “little terrorist”. Astonished, he told Mrs. Daniels her remark was racist, but she laughed it off, saying it was a joke from her favorite movie. This was the first time a racist comment came from a trusted adult, leaving Mahmoud feeling unsupported and unsafe.
AccessCal provided Mahmoud with counseling to affirm his feelings and help him work through his anxiety. The healing journey is still ongoing, but with AccessCal’s support, Mahmoud is beginning to feel more grounded and confident.
“…no one wants me to be who I am.”
16-year-old, Skye, came out as transgender and began a journey of heartbreak–from experiencing severe cyberbullying online and losing many friends, to a significant decrease in grades and attendance at school. Even at home, Skye had no support from their family. Every day became harder and lonelier, “It feels like no one wants me to be who I am.”
When Skye reached out to Family Assistance Program, they began attending workshops focused on empowerment, healing and safety. The sessions provided education, coping tools and the sense of belonging and confidence Skye had been missing. They were able to recognize who in their life could offer real support—teachers, mentors, and peers.
With time, Skye started speaking openly about their own gender identity, advocating for themself at school, and supporting other LGBTQ+ youth who felt alone. Skye now has the tools and resources to confront hate if it reoccurs. “I feel stronger than I ever have. I’m not hiding anymore.”
Free [Hate] Speech
In Irvine, Bailey and her Chinese immigrant mother lived above an aggressive neighbor, who would repeatedly bang on their ceiling. In passing, the neighbor yelled racial slurs based on COVID-19 and threatened violence. Bailey’s mom was scared to leave her home but felt trapped in a hostile apartment, causing her to develop crippling anxiety. Bailey also struggled to focus in school due to the ongoing stress.
The family contacted the landlord for support, but he said the neighbor was exercising “free speech”. Bailey called Orange County Herald Center, who connected her mother to therapy, secured the family with emergency rehousing, and reported the incident to the City of Irvine. Bailey’s mom expressed, “I’m thankful for a community of support who believes in my story”.
“I came for my community…”
Where California’s health care system fails to meet the needs of communities of color, Community Health Workers (CHWs) are a lifeline that are often under-supported. Mila, a CHW, carried the weight of racial discrimination and lack of safety for years. She became exhausted and guarded. Seeking connection, she joined the California Health Collaborative’s Ubuntu Healing Circle.
Mila reflected on past workplace experiences where she was repeatedly overlooked for opportunities. She formed a deep connection with another member, with whom she found clarity, support and confidence: “I came for my community, but I ended up healing parts of myself too.” Together, they created a Community Health Worker Circle: a safe and affirming space for those who serve others but rarely get the support they need themselves.