An anti-Armenian hate nonprofit called the Truth And Accountability League, has joined with the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations’ “LA vs. Hate” for multiple new Armenians Against Hate public service announcements that will air locally and online.
The PSA launch happened virtually on Thursday, March 14 and included Robin Toma, the executive director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. Other guest speakers included Vic Gerami, founder of TAAL, Marc Baarart, director of the L.A. District Attorney’s office, and two victims of anti-Armenian hate.
While TAAL and victims of anti-Armenian hate said hate crimes and incidents toward Armenians have gone up, the data shows the hate is largely unreported.
In 2022, only six anti-Armenian hate crimes and incidents were reported, according to Toma.
While hate crimes have generally increased in the most recent report, the number of hate crimes against Armenians — while small — rose 200%, from two in 2021 to six in 2022, according to a L.A. County’s Commission on Human Relations press release. This reflects that many anti-Armenian crimes and hate incidents are not reported.
Toma and Baarart said that reporting hate crimes and incidents is important because it allows for state and county data on which communities are being targeted. This can then help determine what resources need allocating to fight hate.
“We know that if we are to stop the rise in hate, especially now in this period when there’s going to be added animosities and tensions fueled by the presidential campaign,” Toma said.
Toma later added that what happens in our political sphere does show up in hate crime reports.
Gerami said that his nonprofit has seen “a massive increase in anti Armenian hate acts, incidents, and crimes” over the last few years.
Zarik Hacopian, a TAAL volunteer and one of the victims of an anti-Armenian hate incident, shared about her experience before her public service…
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