Key findings show a sharp increase in victimization across multiple groups.
The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations (LACCHR) on Dec. 11 released its annual analysis of hate crimes reported throughout the county in 2023.
Since 1980, LACCHR has compiled, analyzed, and produced this annual report of hate crime data submitted by over 100 law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and community-based organizations. Following three years of double-digit increases, reported hate crimes in L.A. County drastically increased 45% from 930 to 1,350, the largest number in the history of this report.
Key findings include data highlighting the disproportionate victimization of African Americans, high rates of violence against transgender individuals and Latino/as, the largest number of hate crimes targeting Asians, Jewish people, Latino/as, LGBT individuals, and transgender people.
Additionally, the report notes an increase in the use of anti-immigrant slurs, a surge in hate crimes related to Middle Eastern conflicts, and the highest number of hate crimes linked to white supremacist ideology.
Another important finding is that part of the growth in reported hate crimes is due to the increased use by hate crime victims of the reporting mechanism of LAvsHate.org and 211, which added over 50 reported hate crimes to the total. It was the third-largest source of hate crime reports in 2023, exceeded only by the LAPD and the L.A. Sheriff’s Department.
“Although the numbers reported today are unprecedented for multiple communities throughout L.A. County, they signal that more people are coming forward to report hate crimes and are refusing to accept the normalization of hate,” said Helen Chin, president of LACCHR. “The anti-hate programs led by our commission provide L.A. County residents with a system where people can report hate and receive help. By standing together, we can extinguish hate and discrimination in every community and reinforce that hate and discrimination have no place here.”
“Our county is facing what the rest of the nation is experiencing, the continuing increase in hate crimes, and we are ramping up our programs to meet the challenge,” said Robin Toma, executive director of LACCHR. “However, it’s critical to recognize that the growth in reported hate crimes is partly due to the success of our L.A. vs. Hate system, which urges every victim of hate crime to report to us and gain free services and support. Connecting with more people and their communities who refuse to remain silent by reporting hate, and building intergroup solidarity, is an essential part of our strategy for ending hate.”
“Hate crimes don’t just target individuals — they harm entire communities,” said L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “They are an attack on the very fabric of who we are, and the shared values that unite us. That’s why this report is so important — it’s more than just data. It serves as a mirror, reflecting the challenges we face and the work we must do to create a county where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. By analyzing the patterns and trends in hate crimes, we can better understand where our efforts need to be focused and how we can prevent such acts in the future.”
“Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in incidents of hate across the county, which is very troubling,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Pro Tem Hilda Solis, supervisor for the 1st District. “Hate has no place in our society, and today, we have an opportunity to combat hate and prejudice. I have long led efforts to address incidents of hate ountywide, including initiating the launch of the L.A. vs. Hate campaign and securing its funding back in 2018. Every resident in Los Angeles County deserves to feel safe and secure year-round. Together, we must stand in solidarity to continue protecting and supporting our diverse communities.”
To view the complete report, including hate crime maps, graphs, and tables, visit http://hrc.lacounty.gov.
The report’s significant findings also include the following:
? Reported hate crimes dramatically increased 45% from 930 in 2022 to 1,350 in 2023, the largest number in the history of this report and surpassing the 1,031 hate crimes from 2001 when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred.
? There were 99 anti-transgender crimes, representing a 125% increase. This is the largest number ever documented. A staggering 97% of these crimes were violent.
? Religious crimes spiked 90% and were the second-largest motivation. Anti-Jewish hate crimes rose 91% from 127 to 242. This is the largest number of anti-Jewish crimes ever recorded.
? African Americans were again grossly over-represented in reported racial hate crimes, constituting 49% of racial hate crime victims. The 320 anti-Black crimes were the highest number ever recorded.
? Anti-LGBT crimes rose 48% from 173 to 256. This was the largest number ever documented. 73% of these crimes targeted gay men.
? Anti-Latino/a crimes rose 19% from 121 to 144. This is the highest number ever recorded. Racial crimes targeting Latino/as were the most violent (87%) of all racial and ethnic groups.
? Anti-Asian crimes, after dipping the year prior, increased 31%. The 80 victims were the second-highest number ever recorded.
? In 2023, there were 209 crimes with evidence of white supremacist ideology, and this was the highest number ever recorded in this report. They comprised 15% of all reported hate crimes.
? Hate crimes in which anti-immigrant slurs were used climbed 31%. The 123 crimes recorded in 2023 comprised the largest number ever recorded. Suspects used anti-immigrant language in 71% of anti-Latino/a crimes and in 18% of anti-Asian offenses.
? Crimes in which there was specific language regarding conflict in the Middle East sharply increased from 2 to 64 in 2023 and accounted for 5% of all hate crimes. This is the largest number ever recorded since the commission began tracking this phenomenon in 2007.
? Hate crimes taking place at schools grew 46% from 93 to 136 and accounted for 10% of all hate crimes. Over half (57%) of hate crimes that occurred in schools were motivated by race, ethnicity, or national origin.
? There were sharp increases in hate crimes based on gender (142% increase), religious (90%), and sexual orientation (48% increase) hate crimes. Race, ethnicity, and national origin was by far the most common motivation, constituting 45% of all hate crimes. These crimes jumped 18%, from 547 to 646.
? 65% of reported hate crimes were of a violent nature compared to 72% the year prior. Vandalisms surpassed violent simple assaults, creating a drop in the percentage of violent crimes.
? The largest number of hate crimes took place in the Metro Region, which stretches from West Hollywood to Boyle Heights followed by the San Fernando Valley.
The LA vs Hate initiative is the product of the Board of Supervisors unanimously passing a motion empowering the county’s Human Relations Commission to build a multi-year campaign to prevent and respond to acts of hate in the county. The goal of the LA vs Hate system is to end the normalization of hate; inspire and train people to stand up to hate; provide easy ways to get free support by reporting it; and support individuals and communities as they heal from the trauma of hate.
By reporting hate online at LAvsHate.org or dialing 211, victims can get an array of free and confidential services and counseling. This year, the commission’s LA vs Hate initiative officially launched the Combating Anti-Blackness Training Series, designed by South Central Los Angeles leaders to help build capacity to address institutional racism and empower communities to stand against hate.
Since September 2019, when LA vs Hate/211 began accepting calls and reports via the website, LA vs Hate has received more than 3600 reports of hate, including over 700 during the last year alone.
L.A. County has been committed to combatting hate in communities throughout Los Angeles year-round. Some months ago, the Board of Supervisors approved the Combating Identity-Based Hate motion initiated by Supervisor Holly Mitchell, 2ndDistrict, and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, 3rdDistrict, calling for an equitable, strategic approach to addressing the rise in identity-based hate.
“Each number captured in the county’s Report on Hate Crimes represents a fellow resident who has the right to live, love, worship, and be their authentic self without experiencing rhetoric and violence that disregards their humanity,” said Mitchell. “We know that there are still far too many incidents that go unreported, which is why the data from this annual report is critical for improving our strategies and shared responsibility to respond to and help prevent all forms of hate.”
“Hate has no place in Los Angeles County. The significant rise in hate crimes over the past year is deeply alarming, and we must stand united to protect and uplift our diverse communities,” said Horvath. “With a new federal administration on the horizon, this work is more important than ever. L.A. County will remain true to our values of inclusivity, building bridges, and ensuring that every Angeleno can live safely and free from hate.”
The county has also launched a new resource page with Anti-Racism Diversity and Inclusion (ARDI). This page offers residents, students, and organizations strategies to help end hate and support survivors. It also includes a helpful Community Safety Resource Guide. The county is committed to standing up to racism, xenophobia, anti-Blackness, anti-Latino hate, antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-LGBTQ, anti-trans hate, and all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
“This report is grim,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4thDistrict. “The hate crimes detailed in it are serious. Many of them are violent. They leave victims across the county permanently, even if not visibly, scarred. They shatter the sense of safety these individuals had and, in many cases, destroy it for their families and communities as well. My message to every victim is that no matter what a hateful person said or did, you belong here in L.A. County. Whether you are Black, Asian, Latino, gay, trans, Jewish, or Muslim — you are welcome here in L.A. County, and the leaders of your government stand with you and stand against hate.”
“Hate crimes are a top priority for me and the Sheriff’s Department,” Sheriff Robert Luna said. “Our dedicated hate crime coordinators have been working closely with the commission to address these crimes. Together, we’ve developed a training video for law enforcement agencies to guide them in referring victims of hate — whether a crime or an incident — to LA vs Hate. This program offers free services to help victims heal and protect their rights, whether through counseling, assistance with discrimination cases, or enforcement of civil protections.
“Hate Crimes have no place in Los Angeles County. We stand united in protecting a person’s right to feel safe, respected, and valued in our communities.”
“The rise in hate crime in Los Angeles County is deeply troubling. We must come together to protect and support our diverse communities,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. “Today, we have an opportunity to combat hate and prejudice so that every resident in L.A. County can feel safe in their homes, their places of worship, and their neighborhoods. Hate has no place in our society, and those who engage in hate crimes should know that they will be held fully accountable for their.”
Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
After declining in 2022, reported hate crimes against Asian Americans increased from 61 to 80 (up 31%).The 80 Asian victims make up the second-highest number ever recorded, just one less than the 81 victims reported in 2021.
Asian Americans constitute 16% of Los Angeles County residents and were targeted in 12% of racial hate crimes.
Anti-Chinese slurs were used in 29% out of all anti-Asian crimes reported in 2023, followed by crimes targeting Asian Indians (9%), Koreans (9%), and Japanese (5%).
There were also single crimes each targeting the following ethnicities: Cambodian, Filipino, Pakistani, South Asian, and Vietnamese.
In 2023, in cases in which suspects were identified, 38% were white, followed by African Americans (34%) and Latinos/as (26%). The year prior the largest suspect group was African American.
Crimes in which anti-immigrant slurs were used increased 31% from 94 to 123 in 2023, the largest number since 2001, when this report began tracking anti-immigrant slurs. Of these, 71% targeted Latino/as, down from 72%, and of those 58% were specifically anti-Mexican; 18% targeted Asians, up from 16%, and 3% were anti-African.
On Feb. 3 in Azusa, an Asian male victim was waiting at a train station. Unprovoked, a Black male suspect approached him and began yelling. Despite the victim’s efforts to defuse the situation, the suspect became increasingly agitated and eventually spat towards the victim, striking him on the leg.
The suspect continued to yell “Chink,” “Go back to China,” “All Chinese are sh*t,” and “The U.S. should go to war with China.” The suspect then said, “I will kill you” and “I’m gonna shoot you. I have a gun.”