LA County Releases Annual Report on Hate Crimes:
Second-Highest Total of Hate Crimes in 44 Years
Key findings show high levels of victimization across multiple groups, with record levels of reported hate crimes targeting African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, Jewish people, Latino/as, Middle Easterners, women, Israelis, Muslims, and Scientologists.
 The LA County Human Relations Commission released its annual Hate Crimes Report on Thursday, December 4. The report revealed the second-highest total number of hate crimes in LA County in 44 years.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations (LACCHR) released its annual analysis of hate crimes reported throughout Los Angeles County in 2024. Since 1980, LACCHR has compiled, analyzed, and produced this annual report of hate crime data submitted by over 100 law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and community-based organizations. There were 1,355 reported hate crimes in Los Angeles County in 2024, the second highest ever in the 44-year history of this report.
Key findings reveal record-highs in reported hate crimes across multiple groups, including those against African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, Jewish people, Latino/as, Middle Easterners, women, Israelis, Muslims, and Scientologists. Additionally, the report notes significant increases in crimes occurring in schools, and cases connected to conflicts in the Middle East.
“Now more than ever, Los Angeles County stands firm in supporting victims of hate and confronting the divisiveness that fuels these crimes,” said Los Angeles County Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “While our communities continue to navigate and recover from an unprecedented year, the commitment and resilience with which we take care of one another continue to light our way forward. We honor the richness of our differences while also recognizing our commonalities, and our strengths. Together, we work toward a more inclusive, compassionate County where everyone is valued and protected.”
“It is deeply disturbing to see anti-Black hate crimes among the forms of hate that have increased, and to know that every number in this report represents someone in our communities. The LA County Hate Crimes Report is a painful and necessary snapshot of the acts of violence we know about, underscoring why we must remain committed to addressing the root causes of hate and supporting our communities in creating meaningful change. We owe it to every survivor, every individual who intervened or reported a hate crime, and to our shared humanity not to normalize these statistics” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District.
“Each of these numbers represents a person whose dignity was violated and whose community feels that harm. This year’s report makes clear that hate isn’t slowing—it’s evolving and appearing in the daily lives of far too many Angelenos. As a County, we will not accept this as our new normal,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “We are strengthening our partnerships with schools, community organizations, and survivors to confront hate early, directly, and with compassion. No matter who you are or how you show up in the world, you deserve to be safe and supported in Los Angeles County. We will not rest until that is true for everyone.”
“We are seeing a second wave of unprecedented data reflecting the impact of hate across diverse communities in L.A. County,” said Helen Chin, President of the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations. “As one of the County’s longstanding institutions dedicated to advancing justice and protecting human rights, the Commission remains a trusted leader in advocating for targeted communities and coordinating the County’s efforts to combat hate and protect human rights.”
“These numbers show that our communities in L.A. County are under attack from multiple fronts—just like the rest of the nation,” said Robin Toma, Executive Director of the Commission on Human Relations. “In these challenging times, our LA vs Hate system is more vital than ever—providing victims/survivors with confidential multilingual services, gaining valuable data to inform hate prevention strategies, and ensuring that every person feels seen and supported.”
“Hate crimes are serious offenses and when someone is targeted for who they are, it’s not just a crime against that individual but against our entire community,” said Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigates all hate-motivated acts with the highest priority and seeks to hold offenders accountable. We want our community to know that we are here to protect them and that hate has no place in Los Angeles County.”
“The LAPD will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement and governmental partners to ensure that hate crimes are addressed in a timely manner and that suspects involved in this heinous activity are quickly identified and brought to justice,” said Alan S. Hamilton, Chief of Detectives at Los Angeles Police Department.
To view the complete report, including hate crime maps, graphs, and tables, please visit hrc.lacounty.gov.
For specific race/ethnicity data and examples, visit the links below.
The report’s significant findings include the following:
- Reported hate crimes in Los Angeles County decreased slightly by 1% from 1,367 in 2023 to 1,355 in 2024, the second highest total in the history of this report.
- African Americans were again grossly over-represented in the overall total of those targeted and made up 51% of racial hate crime victims. The 345 anti-Black crimes were the highest number ever reported.
- There were 102 anti-transgender crimes, the largest number ever documented in this report. A staggering 95% of these crimes were violent.
- Anti-Latino/a crimes slightly decreased from 145 to 143, the second highest number recorded in the history of this report.
- Anti-Middle Eastern crimes sharply increased 118% from 22 to 48, the largest count in our current database.
- Anti-female crimes grew 75% from 20 to 35 and set a record for the highest number ever recorded.
- Anti-Israeli crimes increased 27% from 22 to 28, the highest count in our current database.
- Hate crimes targeting non-binary people sharply increased 275% from 4 to 15, higher than 2023 when we began tracking this targeted group.
- Race, ethnicity, and national origin was by far the most common motivation, constituting 48% of all hate crimes. The 678 victims in 2024 was the highest count in our current database.
- Crimes targeting Muslims and Scientologists set records for the highest counts ever and anti-Jewish crimes were the second highest ever recorded in the history of this report.
- Seventy-two percent of crimes motivated by sexual orientation targeted gay men. This was the second largest number ever documented for this motivation.
- Hate crimes taking place at schools grew from 139 to 147 and accounted for 11% of all hate crimes. This is the highest count ever documented in this report.
- Crimes in which there was specific language regarding conflict in the Middle East sharply increased 64 to 81. This is the largest number ever recorded since we began tracking this phenomenon in 2007.
For complete information about the 2024 Hate Crime Report, click here.
For more information about LA County’s Commission on Human Relations, click here.
 |
|
About the LA County Commission on Human Relations
The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations is dedicated to protecting human rights and promoting positive human relations in our richly diverse, multicultural county throughout 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.
|
 |
|
About the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors
The LA County Commission on Human Relations is housed within the Executive Office of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The Executive Office provides a multi-functional support role for the Board of Supervisors in administering and managing technology, staffing, procurement, and facilities resources, as well as the publication of information for the Board, various County departments, and the public. The Executive Office also administers and oversees over 30 County commissions and offices, and its mission is to provide excellent customer service and support the Board in achieving its objectives. |
###
|
