2022 LA vs Hate United Against Hate Week Press Conference
The 2022 LA vs Hate United Against Hate Week kicked off with a press conference held in front of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration where partners, government officials, and community members gathered to support our movement focused on empowering residents, eliminating hate from our neighborhoods, and providing resources for those affected by hate crimes and hate incidents.
United Against Hate Week takes place each year during the month of November and focuses on encouraging local civic action that brings communities together through art activations, self healing workshops, bystander intervention training, webinars, film screenings and many other forms of engagement. This year we have seen an amazing response from partners and supporters in and around LA County who have joined us for United Against Hate Week and are leading events in their region to connect with and inspire residents.
Robin Toma, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and lead agency for LA vs Hate, led the conference and shared the stage with diverse leaders from across Los Angeles who stood together to denounce hate and share the ways in which we can work together to build safer and more inclusive communities. In attendance were county officials in support of LA vs Hate including Holly J Mitchell, Chair, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 2; Esther Lim, Justice Deputy, Office of Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 1; Maria S. Salinas, President and CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce & UAHW Honorary Co-Chair; Debra Duardo, Superintendent, Los Angeles County Office of Education & UAHW Honorary Co-Chair; Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California; George Gascón, Los Angeles District Attorney; Hildy Stern, former Mayor Manhattan Beach and founder, South Bay Community Coalition Against Hate; Shawn Landres, Chair Emeritus, Los Angeles Quality & Productivity Commission & UAHW Co-Chair; and Chalak Richards, Dean of Student Life, Diversity & Belonging, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law & UAHW Co-Chair.
The press conference was followed by a Wishing Tree activity in which county leaders and attendees were encouraged to write a wish for their community and display it on the olive tree provided by LA vs Hate. Olive trees are well known for being considered a symbol of peace and friendship that dates back to ancient Greek mythology. The tree reflected the wishes of LA County residents who dream of a community where neighbors value respect, speaking out for others, and welcoming all.
Thank you to those who joined us as we celebrated the commencement of our third annual United Against Hate Week. To explore all of the events taking place this year, you can visit the official United Against Hate Week event calendar.
