SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued the following statement in response to the 2021 Orange County Hate Crimes Report which was recently released by the OC Human Relations Commission:
When hate exists in our society, all of our lights are dimmed. The victims who suffer in silence. The haters who learned to hate instead of love. Every aspect of society hurts when hate overcomes love.
The results of the 2021 Hate Crimes Report by the OC Human Relations Commission are distressing.
Hate-motivated behavior and incidents in Orange County have steadily increased – rising 424% over the last 10 years. Hate crimes and hate incidents increased a combined 6% percent over the previous year.
This is despicable.
The beauty of Orange County is found in our diversity – in the millions of different faces who call Orange County home. Our stories are all different – but those differences are what make up the patchwork that we all call home.
The world is not a better place when we shrink into the shadows because speaking up is too hard.
We must all speak up – and stand up for what is right and just. We must speak for the silenced so they too can be brave enough to raise their voices and be heard. We must speak so loudly that the voices of love drown out the voices of hate.
Last May, I created the Orange County District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Unit dedicated to prosecuting hate crimes – and we have prosecuted more than twice the number of hate crimes during the first three years of my administration compared to the prior 25 years of prior administrations.
I will not tolerate hate – here in Orange County – or anywhere. If I can prove it, I will prosecute haters to the fullest extent of the law. I will keep sending that strong message over and over again that there is no place for hate.
We as a society must do better. Our unique differences make us uniquely us – and we should not be preyed upon because of who we are, what we look like, or who we love.
There is no room in our community for violence and hatred. But there is plenty of room for love. And we must use our collective voices to speak up for what is right and just.
