Text ‘HATE’: LA County Launches New Reporting Tool For Hate-Crime Incidents

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County residents who experience or witness hate, bias or discrimination have a new way to report incidents and seek help Thursday, using a text-message service launched as part of the county's annual United Against Hate Week.

The LA vs Hate initiative allows residents to text "HATE" to 52-211 to report incidents confidentially, with support available in 15 languages, according to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations.

Reports can be submitted anonymously, and people who contact the service can choose to connect with a trained care coordinator for assistance and referrals.

Residents can also report incidents online at LAvsHate.org or by calling 211.

The service was introduced this week during an event at the San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, where county officials, community leaders and residents gathered to mark the beginning of United Against Hate Week. The annual campaign, which runs through Saturday, is intended to encourage residents to report hate incidents and participate in community efforts to combat discrimination.

"In Los Angeles County, residents deserve to feel safe, and the LA vs Hate Text-to-Report launch is a new, safer way for Angelenos to report hate, bias, and discrimination," county Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis said in a statement. "Now more than ever, we have a responsibility to stand strong against hate and support one another while strengthening inclusion, unity, and hope for a better future."

LA vs Hate was established in 2019 to provide free, confidential and multilingual support to people affected by hate crimes and incidents.

County officials said the text-message option is intended to make reporting more accessible to residents who may be reluctant to call or seek assistance in person.

"Nobody should have to deal with hate alone. This new text-to-report service makes it easier for people to speak up, report what happened, and get the support they need," Supervisor Janice Hahn said. "We all have a role to play in standing up to hate, and that starts with making sure people know they're not alone."

The reporting service comes as the county continues to record elevated levels of hate crimes.

According to the county's latest Hate Crime Report, 1,355 hate crimes were reported in Los Angeles County in 2024, the second-highest total in the report's 44-year history.

The report also documented a record 147 hate crimes at schools and some of the highest totals recorded for crimes targeting Black residents, Latinos, LGBT community members, Jews, Muslims and women.

"Every resident deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, school, and place of worship. Text-to-Report removes a barrier by letting people come forward in their own language, on their own terms, and get connected to support," Supervisor Kathryn Barger said. "When people speak up, we all get a clearer picture of what our communities are facing and how to respond."

Throughout United Against Hate Week, a traveling LA vs Hate taco truck is visiting neighborhoods across the county to distribute information about the reporting service and offer free tacos.

The county is also promoting the program through Metro partnerships, bus shelter displays, public art and digital advertisements.

On Friday, a gathering at Bixby Park in Long Beach will honor Terri Villa-McDowell, an LA vs Hate program manager who helped establish the initiative in 2019 and died in October 2025.

The county's ninth annual United Against Hate Week concludes Saturday.

A schedule of events is available at lavshate.org/uahw.

Residents seeking to report hate or discrimination or obtain assistance can visit LAvsHate.org, call 211 or text "HATE" to 52-211.

City News Service