November 14th the San Bernardino American News hosted a town hall via zoom and brought together community leaders to discuss hate crimes in our community and how we can advocate for others and ourselves if we witness or experience a hate crime. San Bernardino county hate crimes are severely under reported and the purpose of this town hall was bring awareness to the tools the community has and may not be utilizing. Leaders from multiple communities including local ones in San Bernardino county joined the call and gave very useful information for anyone to use.
Sponsored by the California State library and California Black Media, the call included guest from various organizations, including: Edwina Thomas, Community Intervention Specialist with the Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy in San Bernardino, Oscar Lobos, Program Manager from the Family Assistance Program in Victorville. Gerald Garth, Executive Director of the AMAAD Institute (Arming Minorities against Addiction & Disease) and Gerald is also the board president for LA Pride. Chantel Bermudez, Senior Manager of CA vs. Hate resource line at the California Civil Rights department and also James Williams, community based organization manager from the California Civil Rights Department. Lastly our moderator was Xeron Pledger from the Delivering C.H.A.N.G.E program in Atlanta Georgia.
A hate crime is generally a act motivated by biases of a persons perceived or actual identity. There are two main types of hate crimes, the first is violating civil rights laws and the second is a criminal act that is motivated by a persons perceived or actual identity. Even if you are not sure what qualifies as a hate crime you can always contact 1-833-866-4283 to report and also to inquire about something you may have witnessed. Gerald Garth, who works with two organizations both AMAAD and LA Pride prioritizes safe spaces and also making sure participants and staff know their rights. The California vs Hate hotline non emergency line is unique because you can call for any reason whether or not it is a hate crime. The hotline is available Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm or you can visit CAvsHate.org and report a incident as well.
The Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy as well as the Family Assistance program are two local community based organizations that are assisting our local communities needs. Edwina, who is a intervention specialist with the Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy is very involved with the youth in the San Bernardino area. Edwina and the young visionaries are partnering with Mayor Helen Tran on a video for the stop the hate campaign. The Young Visionaries Youth Academy focus on Mental Heath, Mentoring, Academic support, employment development and many more services. Oscar Lobos, program manager at the Family Assistance Program in Victorville are getting their services into schools in the high desert area. They are focusing on education and mental health support of residents of all ages.
We can all report hate crimes and we can even report hate crimes anonymous at 1-833-8-No-Hate or visit cavshate.org. The hotline is not law enforcement affiliated and the CA vs Hate hotline is a state agency. Please visit all of the websites and take advantage of the services all of our leaders have to offer below and also watch the replay of our town hall below.
Edwina Thomas- Young Visionaries Youth Academy
Chantal Bermudez- CA VS. Hate Civil Rights Department
Gerald Garth- AMAAD Institute & LA Pride
Oscar Lobos- Family Assistance Program
Xeron Pledger- Delivering C.H.A.N.G.E. Program
This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The rogram is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
