Santa Monica Observes United Against Hate Week November 13-19
November 9, 2022 11:56 AM
by Paolo Velasco
The City of Santa Monica is proud to join with cities, counties, and other organizations across California in standing United Against Hate. Recent incidents have reminded us of the ways in which hate threatens the well-being and safety of our communities. Racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia and other bigoted views have no place in our city. We call on everyone in Santa Monica to come together in unity and ensure that our city is a safe and inclusive place for all.
Santa Monica has not been immune to acts of hatred and bigotry. However, the people of Santa Monica have also demonstrated collective strength and resiliency through community action. In July of 2022, the City Council issued a statement against hate, affirming that "[equity] and inclusion remain at the core of Santa Monica’s values, and the City will not allow abusive or threatening hate speech, intolerance, or dehumanization to prevail over basic civil respect and human decency." In support of these values, the City will once again be partnering with LA vs Hate to commemorate United Against Hate (UAH) Week, taking place from November 13th-19th, 2022.
United Against Hate Week is a call for local civic action to stop the hate and implicit biases that are a dangerous threat to the safety and civility of our neighborhoods, towns and cities. In Los Angeles County, the LA vs Hate program is a community-driven approach to empower all residents of the County to unite against, report, and resist hate. By raising awareness about the dangers of hate and the need for respectful and civil discourse, Santa Monica can fully embrace its stated values of equity, inclusion, resilience, and safety.
If you experience a hate crime or witness a hate crime, recognize it, name it, and most importantly, report it. If you have experienced a hate crime in Santa Monica, call the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491. You can also dial 2-1-1, the County’s hotline for victims or witnesses to report acts of bullying or incidents motivated by hate or discrimination, or click on the following link Hate Crimes Reporting | 211LA.
We encourage the community to visit the United Against Hate Week website and the Los Angeles County LA vs. Hate website to learn more about how to become involved in these important efforts to create a safe and inclusive community.
To download and print Santa Monica posters for United Against Hate week, click below:
To download a Santa Monica vs Hate virtual background, click here.Authored By
Paolo Velasco
Equity and Inclusion Manager