FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Norma López
(714) 480-6594 | norma@splash.ochumanrelations.org
Orange County Human Relations Commission condemns xenophobia and White Supremacist propaganda displayed at public meetings and places
(December 9, 2021) Covid-19 continues to plague our country and so is the vitriol against our communities of color particularly Asian Americans. Nobody is immune or safe from being a target of hate. It has become apparent that hate trolls continue to be emboldened and are now using public meetings and spaces to exercise their first amendment right to bullhorn racism, bigotry, and xenophobia.
The City of Irvine has seen several xenophobic incidents and white supremacists’ banners posted on overpasses. These banners are white supremacy propaganda attacking the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Council on American-Islamic Relations, and among other entities. These banners aim to spread messages of supremacy and hate. This type of propaganda has no place in our streets, communities, or County.
According to the 2020 Orange County Hate Crimes Report, Black people continue to experience one-third of all targeted hate crimes even though they account for 2% of the general population in Orange County. Additionally, the Jewish and Hispanic communities accounted for 11% and 8% of all hate crimes respectively. Hate-motivated attacks known as “hate incidents” increased by 69% from which a shocking 1800% increase in anti-Asian hate incidents were seen from 2020.
Hate is trying to overtake our communities. In producing this report, we hope to raise awareness about hate with the intent of finding solutions in combating xenophobia and bigotry in across the County.
At the sight of this type of hatred and intolerance, the Orange County Human Relations Commission will continue to denounce and condemn all attempts of discriminating against othering people. We will continue to support those who are victimized and rally behind our mission to “seek out causes of tension and conflict, discrimination and intolerance and attempt to eliminate those causes.” If you have been a victim or know someone who has been a victim of a hate crime or hate incident, please call your local law enforcement agency. Additional ways to report, call our confidential hotline 714-480-6580 or report via our online portal at https://www.splash.ochumanrelations.org/hatecrime/report/.
Visit the Commission’s website at: https://www.occommunityservices.org/human-relations-commission
This document does not represent an official county position and has not been approved or endorsed by the County of Orange or the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
