Hate-motivated incidents against Muslims in Orange County and throughout Southern California skyrocketed last year, with the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino driving the increase, according to organizations that track the incidents. “There was a clear statewide increase in the targeting of Muslims for hate and bigotry,” Rusty Kennedy said. “There is no doubt.”
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The 2015 Orange County Hate Crime Report, published by the Orange County Human Relations Commission, shows “hate crimes” increased in 2015. The most frequently targets were from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, with African American and Jewish individuals making up the top three groups.
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Over the course of two evenings in late July 2016, Joyce Sanchez and Norma López of OC Human Relations Community Building team, conducted a Restorative Circle Facilitator Training at the Islamic Society of Orange County. Its purpose was to train community leaders to lead Community Building/Healing circles in their respective communities in light of recent violent events in the United
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Members of the Orange County Sheriff Department’s Interfaith Advisory Council – – a key project of the OC Human Relations Commission represented by 51 members and 16 religions and denominations –, sat down at Christ Our Redeemer African American Episcopal Church to talk to about the issues that concern them the most today – race, religion, fair policing and implicit bias.
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Complaints involving hate incidents against Muslims in California grew by 58 percent in 2015 compared to the year prior, with Orange County tallying the most complaints in the state, according to a report released Monday by the Council of American-Islamic Relations. CAIR’s report is deeply disturbing, said Rusty Kennedy, executive director of the Orange County Human Relations Commission.
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We at OC Human Relations are so proud of and grateful for this new generation of BRIDGES Youth Leadership summer camp graduates–conscious and confident change-makers ready to take on injustice! Sixteen camp attendees, from across Orange County, spent a week immersing themselves in human relations and social justice learnings and activities so they can be equipped to make positive change and build safe, inclusive and respectful schools in the upcoming school year.
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We are deeply disturbed by the recent killing of police officers and individuals and send our condolences to their families and friends. We hold on to our belief in the power of nonviolence leading the way to needed reconciliation and justice in our country.
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The Anti-Defamation League’s 2015 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, released June 22, shows California near the top of the list of states with the most hate incidents, second only to New York.
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In an opinion piece, Rusty Kennedy, OC Human Relations CEO suggests that we are a stronger community when everyone is included. But we cannot just put out the welcome mat and expect that everyone will enter. We must reach out. We must listen. We must provide a safe place for everyone, but especially for those who have been shut out before.
Read more →On Sunday evening, the LGBT Center OC and our community partners, organized a vigil and candlelight march to create a space for our community to gather and grieve. Over 200 people came to the vigil including many community leaders
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OC Human Relations now has a new name. We are Groundswell!
Use the link below to visit our landing page and learn more about this exciting announcement!