Report reveals California’s ‘epidemic of hate’ up sharply, with Asian communities hard hit

Assemblymember Matt Haney and representatives from California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Office have unveiled an annual report on hate crimes in the state highlighted by a 177.5 percent increase in reported anti-Asian incidents.

Bonta recently released the 2021 Hate Crime in California Report, which revealed that reported hate crimes statewide increased by 32.6 percent from 2020 to 2021 — the highest reported level since 2001. Bonta said the report shows that the “epidemic of hate” seen in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic “remains a clear and present threat.”