San Mateo County organizations looking to prevent hate crimes on their properties or against their members could soon receive a funding boost as part of a $76 million statewide grant program.
The funds are meant to bolster security and safety measures for organizations, including places of worship and nonprofits, particularly those that face higher rates of such crimes. Data from the California Department of Justice shows that, while the overall number of reported hate crimes offenses decreased between 2022 to 2023, such instances related to religious and LGBTQ bias increased. Reported hate crimes related to racial bias fell by more than 20% over the same time period.
“I applaud Governor Newsom for his leadership in working with the Legislature to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hate,” state Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, said in a statement. “This acceleration of funds from the Security Grant Program will improve the safety and security of nonprofits like synagogues, mosques and Black and LGBTQ+ organizations, which are, unfortunately, at higher risk of being the target of hate-based crimes. Every Californian has the right to live without fear of violence or hate because of who they are.”
San Mateo County reported about 70 hate crime offenses in 2022, lower than the 218 in Santa Clara County but slightly higher than San Francisco. There were about 1,970 such hate crimes reported statewide in 2023.
The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to reduce such offenses, and demand for a funding boost spiked since Middle East conflicts escalated starting last year. The Commission on the State of Hate was established to address such concerns as well, along with a statewide anonymous reporting hotline.
Since 2015, the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program has awarded over $150 million to over 900 community groups.
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