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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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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The mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday left the Orange County’s LGBT community heartbroken and trying to cope together through love. People gathered at Plaza Calle Cuatro in Santa Ana on Sunday evening and held rainbow signs – some heart-shaped – spelling out “Orlando unidos,” Spanish for united. They lit the foot of the plaza’s platform with candles.
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The OC Human Relations Commission condemns the senseless hate crime and terrorist attack against the LGBT community in Orlando. We stand together today with our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender friends and family in mourning. Hate crime against the LGBT community is a hate crime against us all. The Commission will join the OC Pride Festival on June 25, 2016
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In a statement, the OC Human Relations Commission said that in the face of the heinous terrorist attacks on innocent people in Belgium its first thoughts and prayers go out to victims lost and suffering from this senseless act of violence. The Commission urged the community to be thoughtful and reasoned in its reactions and to avoid provoking misdirected hate or sweeping measures that victimize innocent people.
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About 30 religious leaders attended the first community meeting of the newly created Orange County Sheriff’s Interfaith Advisory Council, along with Sheriff Hutchens and representatives from the OC Human Relations Commission, the Santa Ana Police Department, the county Mental Health Agency and the Probation Department.
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Local civil rights groups, including the OC Human Relations Commission, answered the call for peace and attended a rally in Anaheim to counter violence with unity after a KKK demonstration turned violent.
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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!