Hate Crimes in L.A. County Surge to Record High in 2023

A new report reveals a 45% increase in reported hate crimes, with Black, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ communities most affected.

The L.A. County Human Relations Commission recorded 1,350 hate crimes in 2023, the highest since tracking began in 1980, marking a 45% increase from 930 incidents in 2022.
Crimes motivated by race, ethnicity, or national origin accounted for nearly half of all reported incidents, with Black individuals disproportionately targeted, making up 49% of racial hate crimes.
Religiously motivated hate crimes surged by 90%, with anti-Jewish crimes nearly doubling to 242 incidents and anti-Muslim crimes more than doubling to 19 cases.
Gender-motivated hate crimes, including anti-transgender crimes, saw a 142% increase, with 97% of anti-transgender crimes classified as violent.
Officials attribute the rise to both increased reporting efforts and heightened societal polarization, emphasizing the need for continued outreach and accountability measures.