LADA’s comprehensive approach to combatting hate crimes combines prosecution, education, and community service. 

August 30, 2024 – LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is proud to announce a significant step forward in addressing and combating hate crimes throughout Los Angeles County. With hate crimes on the rise, the office is not only committed to holding perpetrators accountable but also to addressing the root causes of bias and fostering community reconciliation.

In a news conference on Thursday, District Attorney George Gascón was joined by Robin Toma, executive director, Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations; and members of LADA’s Hate Crimes Unit to address the office and county’s work to prosecute and assist in preventing hate crimes in Los Angeles County.

“Hate has no place in Los Angeles County. We have seen a troubling rise in hate crimes, and we are determined to fight back with a multifaceted approach, which includes concerted efforts to encourage tolerance and understanding through my office’s groundbreaking outreach efforts,” said District Attorney Gascón. “Our office not only prosecutes hate crimes aggressively but also works tirelessly to educate the community and inspire the sort of understanding that can prevent future incidents. We understand the pain these crimes inflict on our communities, and we are dedicated to both justice and healing.”

Recent statistics underscore the alarming trend of hate crimes in California. Statewide, reported hate crime cases have more than doubled from 307 in 2016 to 679 in 2023. These heinous acts have infiltrated our schools, public spaces, and communities, threatening the sense of safety in our diverse state. Los Angeles County, which files more hate crime cases than any other county in California, remains resolute in its commitment to prosecuting these crimes and addressing their root causes.

“Meaningful consequences for those who commit hate crimes in our communities are a necessary part of the strategy for ensuring safety and a sense of belonging for all of us in a diverse LA County, so I applaud these hate crime convictions,” said Robin Toma, Executive Director of the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations, the agency that leads the countywide anti-hate program known as LA vs. Hate. “But I also applaud DA George Gascón for going farther: he joins our Commission and LA vs. Hate in supporting more programs that aim to use transformative educational experiences to change the thinking of those who have committed hate crimes, so they don’t continue to carry hate.”

LA vs. Hate provides many crucial services and has made valuable commitments to our communities, including: education to show bystanders how to interrupt hate when they see it; free legal and other healing assistance confidentially via tele-help partners at 2-1-1 in LA; and free art, memes, and gifs to spread anti-hate messages on social media.  Toma added: “Of course, we can only address hate if people take the time to report it – to the police, or confidentially, and in multiple languages, to www.LAvsHate.org or by calling 211. Together we can eradicate hate in LA County.”

Under District Attorney Gascón’s leadership, the commitment to prosecuting hate crimes has strengthened significantly. From 2021 to 2023, 84% of hate crime cases referred to the District Attorney’s Office were filed as such, marking a notable increase from the previous administration's record. In 2023 alone, the office prosecuted 79% of hate crime cases referred by law enforcement—one of the highest rates in the state and representing nearly a quarter of all hate crime prosecutions in California.

Recent examples of this commitment include the cases of:

• Kevin Mumin, who was sentenced on August 21, 2024, to four years in state prison for a series of violent hate crimes. In August 2023, Mumin targeted Latino males in three separate incidents based on their nationality/race/ethnicity, and aggressively confronted them, ultimately resulting in three violent assaults. In February 2023, Mumin also sexually assaulted a young high school student while she was riding the bus on the way to school. Mumin was found guilty by a jury on three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of sexual battery by restraint. Both the great bodily injury and hate crime allegations were found true. His conviction and sentencing reflect the office’s resolve to bring perpetrators to justice and send a clear message that hate crimes will not be tolerated.

• Another case involved Israel Hernandez, who in December 2023, approached an African American man who was unhoused and vulnerable, at a bus stop. When the man refused Hernandez’s demand for money, he was brutally attacked, punched repeatedly in the face while being subjected to vile racial slurs. Hernandez was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, with the aggravating circumstance of hate. He was found guilty by a jury on April 11, 2024, and sentenced to four years in state prison.

• And there are others, like the case of Klinton Dion whose hateful antisemitic vandalization of multiple locations throughout Burbank and Glendale caused horrific fear in our Jewish community at a particularly vulnerable time. On August 23, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of vandalism of a place of worship and one count of placing a symbol of hate on private property. He was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in state prison.

In addition to rigorous prosecution, LADA introduced the Reconciliation Education and Counseling Crimes of Hate Program (REACCH) in October 2021. This innovative program pairs anti-bias education with mental health support and victim reconciliation, aiming to foster understanding and prevent recidivism. The program has expanded to include a substantial portion of the more than 50 felony hate crime cases filed annually.

“We are committed to not just punishing but also preventing hate,” said DA Gascón. “Through REACCH and other initiatives, we are addressing the underlying issues of bias and fostering a more inclusive community. This comprehensive approach is essential to creating lasting change.”

Community members are encouraged to report hate, discrimination, or bullying and seek support services by calling LA vs. Hate at 2-1-1.

Source: Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office