Friday, 3 July 2026, 10:16
California Attorney General Rob Bonta released the 2025 Hate Crime in California report on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Oakland. The data shows a slight overall decline in reported hate crime events but reveals troubling increases in several bias categories. Bonta called on local leaders and law enforcement to use the findings to strengthen prevention and response efforts.
Reported hate crime events dropped 3.4% from 2,023 in 2024 to 1,955 in 2025. Hate crime offenses fell 4.2% to 2,461, and the number of victims decreased 3.6% to 2,402. However, incidents motivated by racial or ethnic bias jumped 6.2% to 1,074. Anti-Black or African American bias edged up 2.8% to 508 events. Anti-Hispanic or Latino bias spiked 30.3% to 258 events. Anti-citizenship status bias more than doubled, from 16 to 40 events. In contrast, anti-Asian bias dropped 20.2% to 95 events.
Religion-based hate crimes totaled 392 in 2025. Jews were the victims in 289 of those incidents—73.7% of all religion-based cases. That represents about 14.8% of all hate crimes statewide, despite Jews making up roughly 3.25% of California’s population. Anti-Jewish bias declined 6.8% from 310 in 2024, but anti-Islamic bias rose 58.3% to 38 events, and anti-Sikh bias more than doubled to 9 events. Community leaders expressed alarm. “This is yet further evidence of an epidemic of hate that shows no sign of abating,” said Daniel S. Mariaschin of B’nai B’rith International. Seth Brysk of the American Jewish Committee noted that 57.8% of Jewish Californians reported changing their behavior due to fear of antisemitism.
Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation bias fell 35.2% to 295 events. However, gender bias events rose 23.8% to 104, with anti-transgender bias increasing 23.3% to 90 events—accounting for most of the gender bias increase. Overall, gender-based hate crimes remain a relatively small share but are growing.
The number of hate crimes referred for prosecution rose from 818 in 2024 to 870 in 2025. Of those, 595 cases were filed by district attorneys. The California Department of Justice acknowledged that hate crime data is historically underreported, and cautioned that comparisons to prior years may be affected by incomplete submissions from some agencies.
The report was released in Oakland, a city that has seen its own struggles with hate incidents. Statewide, the findings underscore persistent vulnerabilities for communities of color, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Attorney General Bonta urged all Californians to use the state’s 211 referral service and to report hate crimes to local law enforcement. “Everyone has a part to play as we continue to fight intolerance in California,” Bonta said.
The 2025 Hate Crime in California report offers a mixed picture: a modest overall decline in reported events, but sharp increases in bias against Hispanic, Latino, and transgender individuals, and persistently high rates of anti-Jewish hate. State officials and community advocates stress the need for continued vigilance, better data collection, and stronger legal tools to protect all Californians.
