By Dahlia M. Taha | Al Enteshar
Above: Community advocates gathered to mark the launch of the CA vs Hate Resource Line and Network in Sacramento, CA.
Hate crimes and acts of discrimination against Muslim and Arab Americans represent a distressing truth in the United States. However, the documented figures of anti-Muslim incidents remain disproportionately low. This discrepancy arises from the fear and societal stigmatization attached to reporting and openly discussing such incidents, causing many victims within the Arab and Muslim American community to hesitate in sharing their experiences of hate.
According to the California Department of Justice’s Hate Crime Reports for 2021 and 2022, anti-Muslim incidents made up nearly 10% of the documented 1,600 faith-based hate crimes reported in the United States in 2021, and the number of reported bias events in California rose from 18 in 2021 to 26 in 2022.
Hate crimes and incidents not only inflict harm on individuals but also pose a significant threat to the cherished principles of inclusivity and diversity within the nation. Acknowledging the critical nature of this issue, the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has initiated the CA vs Hate Resource Line and Network. This valuable resource empowers residents, including Arab and Muslim Americans, to confidentially report crimes and incidents they have experienced in any language, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these matters.
Hurdles muting the victims
Muslim and Arab Americans of various ages and across all social strata and locations face numerous challenges when confronting hate crimes and discrimination. Shame, lack of trust in the system, unwanted attention, language access, and fears of reprisal are often the barriers that have deterred many victims and their families from seeking help.
“My overall priority is protecting my family. What happens if we report a hate crime and then we are targeted? Who is going to help us? It is not something I am willing to risk,” said Mohammed Yousef, a business entrepreneur in Southern California with a degree from UC Santa Barbara.
Understanding individual civil rights and lacking resources to navigate the legal system are two other major hurdles.
“I have found myself in numerous situations where I have been discriminated against because of my faith,” admitted Sana Ahmad, a graduate student at Cal State Long Beach.
She added, “With each incident, I found myself at a loss of what I was supposed to do and who I was supposed to go to. The lack of resources and support are why I do not speak up.”
A History of Islamophobia
According to an essay by Wayne State law professor Khaled A. Beydoun published on PBS’s American Experience, Islamophobia in America originated from a combination of stereotypes, misinformation, and geopolitical events. It traces back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution when American diplomats were held hostage. Additionally, as reported by Al Jazeera’s online media in 2022, the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks has further contributed to the persistence of prejudice and hatred towards Arab and Muslim Americans, continuing to impact them today.
The situation is intensified further when law enforcement agencies like the FBI engage in actions that undermine the civil liberties of the community, reminiscent of their involvement in overstepping boundaries during the civil rights movement era.
“Over the past 20 years, there has been a history of law enforcement and government officials surveilling Muslim communities. There is a documented incident that has been in litigation of the FBI using an informant in various Southern California mosques,” noted Amr Shabaik, Senior Civil Rights Managing Attorney at the Council on American Islamic Relations in Los Angeles (CAIR-LA).
As a result, Shabaik explained, “This kind of history has created a mistrust between the community and law enforcement.”
Though Shabaik understands why Muslims do not report, he emphasizes the importance of speaking up and reporting these crimes. “The importance cannot be understated because without reporting, without the numbers, without the data, we can’t tell the story of what’s actually happening.”
“We cannot continue to sweep things under the rug as issues will never be addressed this way. Entire communities need to be aware of these issues that impact and affect them. Making these situations more acceptable to talk about and less taboo will make us stronger as a community,” Shabaik emphasizes.
CA vs. Hate Resource Line and Network
In response to the rise of hate activities targeting ethnic populations, including Muslim and Middle Eastern communities, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature invested $165 million into anti-hate programs, the largest of its kind in the nation.
Realizing that there was a lack of resources for victims and significant barriers to collecting accurate hate crime data, which is essential for combating the crisis, the CRD, with support from Gov. Newsom, launched the CA vs. Hate Resource Line and Network in May of this year, a new multilingual statewide hotline and website that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts.
Since the launch, the CA vs Hate hotline has received 180 reports from across the state in the first month.
Kevin Kish, the Director of the California Civil Rights Department said, “Receiving 180 reports in the first month indicates to me, at this early stage, that the program is working as we intended it to, and that people are making use of it.”
According to CRD’s CA vs Hate online information page, “CA vs. Hate is a dedicated non-emergency hate incident and hate crime reporting system staffed by trained professionals who offer guidance, support, and resources to individuals affected by hate incidents. By reaching out to these essential services, individuals and communities targeted for hate can find the assistance they need in navigating the reporting process.
“You can currently submit reports online in 15 languages and, when calling the hotline, you can get access to support in over 200 languages, including Arabic,” Kish explained.
“Through culturally sensitive and accessible support, these initiatives provide victims with the confidence to come forward, report incidents and be provided proper resources.”
Kish went on to explain the overall effort in improving overall accessibility and eliminating barriers experienced by individuals and communities being targeted for hate.
“Part of the reason it looks like this is because we developed it in collaboration with community groups on the ground. We worked together, with the state, to identify exactly what those barriers were. We wanted to work to reduce barriers and we wanted to make it accessible to folks.”
Previously, many Californians did not know how and who to report such crimes to but now with the proper mechanisms in place, Californians have the ability and resources to play a vital role in raising awareness about hate crimes and discrimination. By sharing their firsthand experiences and reporting incidents, they shed light on the pervasive challenges faced by their communities. By using the CA vs Hate Resource Line, victims, their family members, and friends not only can report their incidents but can also receive legal help and advice on resource assistance.
This service holds crucial significance for Arab and Muslim Americans as it instills trust that their cases will receive attention, proper documentation, and protection. The presence of an entire government agency dedicated to safeguarding their civil rights is a long-awaited aspiration within this community.
Community empowerment and solidarity
Silence can perpetuate injustice, but speaking up can bring about positive change. By speaking up, Muslim and Arab Americans and Californians alike can inspire others to come forward, creating a united front against hate. With the unwavering support of the CA vs. Hate Resource Line and Network, backed by the commitment of Governor Newsom and the California Legislature, Californians have access to vital assistance and resources.
By breaking the silence to report, Muslim and Arab Americans play a crucial role in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of data and information by speaking out and reporting incidents.
This is vital for understanding the nature, circumstances, motivations, and locations of crimes, enabling the development of effective policies, approaches, and allocation of resources to prevent future attacks on their loved ones and friends within the community.
CA vs Hate:Reports to the CA vs Hate hotline can be made anonymously by calling (833) 866-4283, or 833-8-NO-HATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or online at any time. Additional information can be found at https://www.cavshate.org/
This report is supported in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the 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.
