An alarming increase in hate crimes
California’s anti-hate initiative, California vs Hate, has once again highlighted the alarming increase in hate crimes across the state, with a particular emphasis on racially motivated offenses against ethnic minorities. At a January 17 Ethnic Media Services briefing, experts from the California Civil Rights Department, activists, and community leaders discussed how ethnic minorities experience racism as an everyday fact of life – from hate speech and schoolyard bullying to facing discrimination in the workplace, housing, and more.
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Kevin Kish, Director of the CA Civil Rights Department stated, “Cal vs Hate is a direct response to the alarming increase in documented hate crimes across the country. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of reported hate crimes nearly doubled.”
The panel included Chairwoman Regina Cuellar, Chairwoman of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and Commissioner on the CA State of Hate, Gaonou Vang, Communications and Narrative Manager, at Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP) and Marlene Thomas, Executive Director, Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee. They shared perspectives on how different ethnic minorities may experience hate in these rural areas, and how the state’s anti-hate initiatives can offer direct support to vulnerable populations.
Impact on Indian Americans
The Indian-American community, despite its significant contributions to the state’s economy and the nation’s development, has not been immune to this disturbing trend.
Although Indian Americans comprise only about 1.5% of the U.S. population, they boast the highest median household incomes and represent 6% of the country’s taxpayers. California, particularly Silicon Valley, has become a hub for Indian talent, with one in three engineers in the region being of Indian origin.
Satish Chandra, who ran for the post of Santa Clara City Council, shared “I’ve been labeled everything from a far-right extremist to a terrorist simply because of my political beliefs. We cannot allow this cycle of hate and intimidation to continue. Our children deserve better. Our community deserves better.’
The ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies has further exacerbated racial sentiments against Indians, many of whom reside in the U.S. on H-1B visas. Even high-profile Indian-Americans have been on the receiving end of racial derogation.
The appointment of Sriram Krishnan as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence in the White House Office was criticized by many Trump supporters who do not want Indian-Americans on the team. Krishnan, an entrepreneur, AI expert, and former General Partner at California-based VC firm Andreessen Horowitz fitted the portfolio perfectly but wasn’t welcomed by many. The reason? His race.
Vivek Ramaswamy, another close Trump ally, has made headlines for exiting DOGE, the new Department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk. He has also faced backlash from the faction of MAGA supporters who questioned his Hindu heritage and criticized him for his views on American culture. During Ramaswamy’s presidential campaign, conservative media pundit Ann Coulter publicly stated she wouldn’t vote for him due to his “Indian roots.” Laura Loomer and Stews Peter are amongst other prominent people who have called Indians ‘third-world invaders,’ ‘parasites,’ and berated cultural values.
Attacks on Religious Institutions and Cultural Identity
The hostility towards Indian-Americans extends beyond individuals to religious institutions. In 2023, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Sacramento, California, fell victim to vandalism, with its walls defaced and property destroyed. According to the California vs Hate report for 2023, 23% of religiously motivated crimes were directed towards Hindus, making them the second-largest religiously targeted group.
A recent report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) analyzed anti-Indian hate on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), categorizing the content into themes such as “Indian men as a Threat,” “Indians as Demographic Threat,” and “Indians as Inferior.”
Community Response and Support
Rishi Kumar, a Silicon Valley-based tech executive and member of the California Democratic Party’s executive board, shared his concerns: “The recent social media attacks targeting Indian professionals and Indian Americans are deeply troubling. It’s time to step up and act. As a community leader, I have prioritized fostering inclusivity and protecting the safety of all.”
In response to these challenges, California vs Hate aims to provide crucial support to victims of racially-motivated crimes.
The initiative offers a multilingual hotline supporting over 200 languages, encouraging both witnesses and victims to report hate crimes. To report an incident, individuals can visit CAvsHate.org or call 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283) Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Image by Photo by Sora Shimazaki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-holding-a-placard-above-head-5926361/