CA leaders unite unanimously to combat hate crimes
By SDCN Editor
CALIFORNIA–Government, business, and community leaders from across California gathered with members of the media to commemorate the unanimous passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 15 (SCR 15) naming January 28 to be Stand Against Hate Action Day in perpetuity.
SCR 15 was introduced by California State Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), who joined all other lawmakers Congressman Lou Correa, Donald Wagner, Chairman of Orange County Board of Supervisors, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan, Irvine Vice Mayor Tammy Kim, Diamond Bar Councilmembers Steve Tye and Ruth Low, Lake Forest Councilmember Benjamin Yu, and Flintridge Preparatory School student Aidan Chao to denounce the rise of hate crimes in the state and across the United States.
Former California State Senator Bob Huff and Mei Mei Ho Huff, who co-founded ACT Against Hate Alliance to focus on solutions against hate crimes, hosted the event to celebrate their proposal for SCR 15.
According to the resolution, it serves as a call for every California resident to take individual action against hate on January 28, and to let that day and what it stands for be an inspiration for action for the rest of the year.
Senator Newman highlighted disturbing statistics that show an unfathomable increase in hate crimes in California. This includes an unacceptable increase of over 950 percent in crimes specifically targeting members of the Asian-American community.
Orange County Supervisor Wagner emphasized the history of California in embracing immigrants and underscored the importance of the word “indivisible” in the deep meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.
“As long as we remain indivisible, we remain strong,” Wagner said. “Let’s not give that up. Let’s not divide. Let’s rally around Senator Newman’s resolution as all.”
Orange County Supervisor Foley echoed those same sentiments, thanking Senator Newman for his courage and boldness in proposing SCR 15.
“I think every day should be Stand Against Hate Action Day,” Foley stated. “We really need to make a commitment as a community that we will Stand Against Hate.”
Aidan Chao, a student at Flintridge Preparatory School in La Cañada Flintridge, is a staunch supporter of the measure. He will work with schools across the state of California and beyond to establish other ACT Against Hate Alliance chapters, and to educate and inspire student leadership in the area.
Mei Mei Huff applauded the strength of this bipartisan statement by California government leaders in the passage of SCR 15. She believes it represents a unified response that hates crimes will not be tolerated. She called upon all Californians to denounce hate crimes and take action to demonstrate their commitment to stop them.
ACT Against Hate Alliance was founded in 2022 to focus on finding and implementing solutions against hate crimes. It was established by Senator Bob Huff and Mei Mei Ho Huff under their community and business development advisory entity Huff Strategies.
The program is made possible by a grant from the California State Library as part of the “Stop the Hate” program.
