Victims and advocates recount hate incidents, urge consistent police response; Assembly Bill 449 cited

Several residents and community advocates described recent hate incidents during a public comment session and urged law enforcement to adopt consistent procedures when bias appears to be a factor.

Speakers said some responding officers declined to take reports or minimized incidents. “I didn't call the police, but they came. I didn't want to admit anything. ... when I told them that there was a racial slur said, and they're like, well, you know, if they do have freedom of speech, you could just go inside and shut the door,” said a resident recounting a home assault and officers who left without taking a report.

The session included multiple personal accounts of physical attacks and harassment tied to victims’ race, ethnicity or national origin. “A group of men stormed into the business. It was a direct target of our identity. Seeing their hatred in…