LA vs Hate Launches 'Signs of Solidarity' Campaign to Unite Communities Against Rising Hate Crimes
New Grassroots Initiative Gives LA County Residents and Businesses the Tools to
Publicly Stand Up Against Hate and Discrimination
LOS ANGELES – In response to historic increases in hate crimes across Los Angeles County, LA vs Hate is launching the "Signs of Solidarity" campaign to empower residents to visibly stand against hate and promote unity within their communities. The 2023 Hate Crime Report by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations revealed a 45% increase in reported hate crimes, rising from 930 in 2022 to 1,350 in 2023—the highest number recorded since the commission began tracking in 1980.
LA vs Hate, the County’s anti-hate program led by the Commission on Human Relations, produced the "Signs of Solidarity" grassroots campaign to address alarming rises in hate by distributing community signage—such as yard signs, posters, and murals—to foster a shared neighborhood identity rooted in inclusion and respect for diversity. By giving residents the tools to publicly display their values, LA vs Hate hopes to shift social norms and foster neighborhoods that not only reject hate, but actively stand against it. “Signs of Solidarity” (SOS) builds on LA vs Hate’s 2023 campaign “Summer of Solidarity,” a public art series that celebrates the diverse communities of Los Angeles through community-led murals across all five county districts.
Following the inaugural release of the 2023 Hate Incident report, which reported an alarming increase in hate activity in LA County, LA vs Hate began planning a new strategy in 2024 to take direct action in the neighborhoods most impacted. “Signs of Solidarity” is working with local communities to reclaim public spaces with visible messages of inclusion. The campaign will launch in different areas month by month (beginning with the Westlake and San Pedro neighborhoods) to address the highest numbers of reported hate crimes and incidents against the most affected communities, including African Americans, Latinos/immigrants, Jewish, Muslim, LGBTQ+. By focusing efforts where they are needed most, LA vs Hate aims to not only respond to the alarming rise in hate crimes, but also strengthen community resilience, encourage reporting, and deter hate by building a culture of solidarity and belonging.
"Our communities are strongest when we stand together against hate," said Robin Toma, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. "The ‘Signs of Solidarity’ campaign is more than just signage—it’s a call to action, a way for residents to express their values and visibly take a stand against hate. At a time when LA County is experiencing historic rises in hate crimes, it is more critical than ever to show cross-community solidarity to prevent hate, and encourage a culture where inclusion is not just encouraged, but expected.”
“The sharp rise in hate crimes across our County is deeply troubling and we must take action to confront it head-on," stated Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Board Chair and Supervisor for the Fifth District. "I’m proud to support the ‘Signs of Solidarity’ campaign, especially as posters and materials are distributed throughout the Antelope Valley—a region where residents are eager to stand united against hate. These visible messages of inclusion send a powerful signal: our communities will not tolerate hate in any form. By empowering individuals to speak out and show solidarity, we are building stronger, more resilient neighborhoods rooted in respect and unity.”
“The rise in hate crimes in our communities is a stark reminder that we must actively defend the values that make Los Angeles County a diverse and welcoming place for all,” said Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and Supervisor for the First District. “The ‘Signs of Solidarity’ campaign empowers residents to visibly unite against hate and show that we stand together in support of each other. By transforming our public spaces with messages of inclusion, we empower our communities and send a clear signal that we will not tolerate hatred. Unity will always prevail.”
“Signs of Solidarity unites our diverse communities in sending one powerful message—that hate has no place in any of our cities or unincorporated communities,” said Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the Second District. “It is my hope that these signs spark dialogue and inspire each of us to take action—starting where we are—to help end the rise in hate crimes and hate speech.”
“Angelenos are standing together in solidarity to confront hate with hope,” said Lindsey P. Horvath, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the Third District. “The Signs of Solidarity campaign gives our communities across the Third District a powerful way to reclaim our streets and proudly display who we are: inclusive, resilient, and united. Together, we are sending a clear message that hate has no place in Los Angeles County.”
“The community I live in, San Pedro, is one of the many communities across the county that has experienced a disturbing rise in hate crimes,” said Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the Fourth District. “We know that what makes San Pedro so special is how we have embraced and celebrated our diversity. These signs are one of the many ways San Pedro residents can make their values known and raise awareness in their own neighborhood about how victims of hate can report their stories.”
The “Signs of Solidarity” campaign welcomes the LA County Board of Supervisors, Metro and over a dozen community-based organizations including the California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ), Homies Unidos, and LA Commons as core partners, and LA vs Hate plans continue to build cross-community partnerships with organizations and agencies across the county to build momentum and support. The campaign will make materials widely available through strategic distribution efforts, including partnerships with city governments, chambers of commerce, grassroots organizations, libraries, and YMCAs. Street teams will target areas with high rates of reported hate incidents, delivering signs to residents, small businesses, and community events. A parallel social media campaign, digital advertising, and community-driven digital content will support this effort by bringing the campaign to virtual spaces and creating a cohesive experience for LA County residents.
To bring the creative vision of each poster and yard sign to life, LA vs Hate is partnering with local artists in each neighborhood to create designs that reflect the unique identity, culture, and spirit of the community. By collaborating with artists who have deep ties to these areas, the campaign ensures that every sign is more than just a message against hate—it is a celebration of the neighborhood’s diversity and resilience.
"For this piece, I wanted to capture the spirit of a community that’s resilient, rooted, and always evolving,” said artist Melissa Govea, who created the designs for the Westlake campaign. “This campaign is about more than just signs—it’s about honoring the people and stories that shape this neighborhood every day. Through symbols like the monarch butterfly and Quetzal birds, my piece speaks to migration, memory, and unity. I hope that when the community sees these signs in their neighborhoods, they feel that same pride, culture, and sense of belonging reflected back at them."
Launched by the LA County Commission on Human Relations in 2019, LA vs Hate is a community-centered program that unites residents against hate, encourages reporting, and supports victims. The program provides a free, confidential and anonymous hotline for victims and witnesses to report any hate incident or hate crime via online reporting to LAvsHate.org or by calling 2-1-1 in LA County, in turn receiving free follow-up services and supportive resources.
For more information about “Signs of Solidarity” or to request a sign, visit www.lavshate.org/signsofsolidarity.
For information about the “Signs of Solidarity" media kit, click here.
About LA vs Hate
LA vs Hate is a community-centered program designed to support all residents of Los Angeles County. Led by the County's Human Relations Commission, LA vs Hate is a system of creating and amplifying diverse anti-hate messaging; providing easy ways to report and get help for hate; and expanding networks for actions against hate. Its mission is to ensure that every person feels a sense of belonging and safety in our county. LA vs Hate boosts reporting of hate activity, and helps hate victims to access a broad range of assistance and support. LA vs Hate is based on continuous campaigning and a unique approach in arts-based messaging that recognizes the diversity of community identities, and the value of knowing about hate incidents, in addition to hate crimes, to inform our strategies and priorities.
About the LA County Commission on Human Relations
The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations is dedicated to securing human rights to strengthen healthy relations throughout our richly diverse, multicultural county, encompassing all five Supervisorial Districts. The Commission works to develop programs that proactively address racism, homophobia, religious prejudice, linguistic bias, anti-immigrant sentiment, and other divisive attitudes that can lead to intercultural tension, hate crimes, and related violence.
For more information about LA County’s Commission on Human Relations, click here.
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