Public figures from entertainment to sports personalities are joining L.A. County’s efforts to fight the rise of hate crimes.
The “Unity Coalition,” launched on Thursday under L.A. vs. Hate, is a new collaborative effort comprised of people from the arts, sports and entertainment industries who are dedicated to combating hate and promoting unity, officials said in a news release.
Coalition members include actress Alyssa Milano, NBA player Paul George, comedian Tig Notaro, actress Chelsea Rendon, actor Nathan Davis Jr., and producer-singer KC Porter, with “many more to come,” officials said.
Led by the county’s Human Relations Commission, L.A. vs Hate is a community-centered campaign to stop hate crimes and attacks, report when they happen, and provide effective anti-hate resources, officials said. Recent campaign efforts include murals honoring L.A.’s diversity and public service announcements featuring victims.
“I look forward to working with this coalition to support communities who have been targeted for hate and to spread positive messages of solidarity and unity,” George said in the release. “No matter who you are and where you come from, you should feel safe and welcome in Los Angeles.”
“I want to fight back against discrimination, bigotry and hate that I know is on the rise in L.A.,” Davis Jr. agreed. “I love my hometown for itsincredible diversity that is reflected in the artistic expressions of me and so many other artists – and I’m going to do my part to stand up and protect it. Hate has no place in L.A.”
According to the latest Hate Crime Report from the CA Department of Justice, L.A. County reported the most hate crimes in the state; a record 664 in 2023. Almost 60% — 397 — of those occurred in the city of Los Angeles. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department reported 44 hate crimes, and Long Beach reported 31 events.
Also, attacks against LGBTQ+, Jewish and Muslim communities significantly rose across the state last year, the report said.
Officials said that L.A. vs. Hate’s free reporting hotline — 211 — has received 2,300 reports of hate since its launch in 2019. Still, research shows hate crimes are still widely underreported due to stigma, cultural barriers, and overall mistrust with law enforcement.
Robin Toma, executive director of the L.A. Commission on Human Relations, said the coalition “provides a space for individuals from diverse backgrounds to lend their unique lived experiences as experiences, as well as their power and privilege, to support the unity of all our communities against hate, hostility, and systemic discrimination.”
“Together, we can make a significant difference in standing up to prejudice, bigotry and inequity, and fulfilling our vision of a shared sense of belonging,” Toma said.
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In the fall, the coalition will support the statewide United Against Hate Week from Sept. 21 through Sept. 27, calling on local agencies to work with the community to end discrimination of all forms.
For more information, and to report any incidents, visit LAvsHate.org or call the multilingual hotline, 2-1-1.
Reporters Victoria Ivie and Allyson Vergara contributed to this report.
