California Leaders Act Unanimously to Combat Hate Crimes

CALIFORNIA: On April 1, government, business, and community leaders from across the state gathered with members of the media to commemorate a moment in California history: the unanimous passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 15 (SCR 15) naming January 28 to be Stand Against Hate Action Day in perpetuity. SCR 15 was introduced by California State Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), who joined all other California lawmakers in a resounding denunciation of the rise in hate crimes documented in California and across the United States.

Senator Newman was joined by Congressman Lou Correa, Donald P. Wagner, Chairman of Orange County (OC) Board of Supervisors, OC Supervisor Katrina Foley, Irvine City Mayor Farrah Khan, Irvine City Vice Mayor Tammy Kim, Diamond Bar City Councilmembers Steve Tye and Ruth Low, Lake Forest Councilmember Benjamin Yu, Flintridge Preparatory School student Aidan Chao, in addition to members of the media.

Former California State Senator Bob Huff and Mei Mei Ho Huff, who co-founded ACT Against Hate Alliance to focus on solutions against hate crimes, hosted the event to celebrate their proposal of SCR 15. They say it serves as a call for every California citizen to take individual action against hate on January 28 and to let that day and what it stands for to be inspiration on action for the rest of the year.

Senator Newman highlighted disturbing statistics that show an unfathomable increase in hate crimes in California. This includes an unacceptable increase of over 950-percent in crimes specifically targeting members of the Asian-American community.

OC Supervisor Wagner emphasized the history of California in embracing immigrants and underscored the importance of the word "indivisible" in the deep meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.

"As long as we remain indivisible, we remain strong," Wagner said. "Let's not give that up. Let's not divide. Let's rally around Senator Newman's resolution as all."

OC Supervisor Foley echoed those same sentiments, thanking Senator Newman for his courage and boldness in proposing SCR 15.

"I think every day should be Stand Against Hate Action Day," Foley stated. "We really need to make a commitment as a community that we will Stand Against Hate."

Aidan Chao is a student who attends Flintridge Preparatory School in La Cañada Flintridge. He has shown strong commitment to the work of ACT Against Hate Alliance. He spoke passionately about how essential it is to get students involved in order to cultivate effective anti-hate leadership for tomorrow.

Chao will work with schools across the state of California and beyond to establish other ACT Against Hate Alliance chapters and to education and inspire student leadership in this area.

Mei Mei Huff applauded the strength of this bipartisan statement by California government leaders in the passage of SCR 15. She believes it represents a unified response that hate crimes will not be tolerated. She called upon all Californians to denounce hate crimes and take action to demonstrate their commitment to stop them.