“Hello, I’m Glendale Police Chief Manny Cid. If you have been a victim of a hate crime, you are not alone. Your safety matters, call 911 to report the crime. Additional resources are available at LAvsHate.org or at 211,” says the police chief of the city of Glendale, California.
Chief Manny Cid along with other public figures in Los Angeles participate in the public service announcement campaign “Stand TAAL to Hate” to stop the hate launched by the League of Truth and Responsibility (True and Accountability League -TAAL), in partnership with the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations (LACCHR) and the campaign LA vs Hate.
Also participating are comedian Margaret Cho, superintendent and president of Glendale Community Colleges, Ryan Connner, businessman Rick Caruso and criminal defense attorney, Mark Geragos.
“Let me give you some unsolicited advice. “If you have been a victim of a hate crime, you can call 211 anonymously and report it,” Attorney Geragos said in the recorded announcement.
While businessman Caruso tells victims of hate crimes and incidents that they are not alone. “A lot of people have been through this, and we need to speak out against hate.”
According to the Human Relations Commission, the goal of these public service announcements is to educate people to report hate acts, incidents and crimes to LAvsHate.org or by calling 211.
“The TAAL campaign raises awareness not only about anti-Armenian racism and Armenophobia, but also in all communities subject to hate acts, incidents and crimes,” they said in a statement.
So the ads seek to empower people to proactively report such incidents and seek help.
TAAL, LACCHR and the campaign LA vs Hate have strongly requested the cooperation of relevant television networks, radio stations and programs to broadcast these public service announcements and share them on their websites, e-blasts and social media platforms.
“In the face of rapidly increasing incidents of intolerance, discrimination and hate, our latest public service announcement campaign is a crucial step in the right direction,” emphasized Vic Gerami, founder and president of TAAL.
In addition, he expressed his gratitude to the five luminaries for their participation; and stated: “their commitment to combating hate and fostering unity through diversity is the driving force behind TAAL. We are honored to partner with the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and LA vs Hate”.
TAAL is a non-profit organization founded in 2020 due to a significant increase in racism, defamation, hate crimes and Armenophobia against Armenians.
They monitor and confront prejudice, misinformation, propaganda and defamation of the Armenian people and culture at the level of the media, including social media, academics, intellectuals and public policies. For more information about TAAL, click here.
Gerami said there has been a significant increase in hate incidents over the past four years against the Armenian community.
“The LACCHR reported that hate crimes and acts against Armenians will increase 200% by 2022”.
The Armenian National Committee of America reported that Armenians had recently been the target of violent hate crimes.
On January 30, 2023, anti-Armenian leaflets calling for the massacre of Armenians were posted throughout Beverly Hills. Similar leaflets appeared in Glendale a month later. In 2019, the Armenian Council on Aging building was vandalized.
All of this led the Burbank Board of Education to revise its anti-racism statement and update its policies to stand in solidarity with Armenians.
In 2020, Los Angeles Councilman Paul Krekorian expressed concern to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore about a possible increase in hate crimes against Armenians.
Robin Toma, executive director of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, said no one should have to endure hate alone.
“TAAL is to be commended for recruiting these leaders to send a message to everyone that hate should not remain hidden.”
He emphasized that once the hatred of the LAvsHate.org or 211, they can get free services that help them end hate and discrimination in wonderfully diverse communities.
Launched by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission in 2019, LA vs Hate is a community-centered program designed to mobilize all residents of Los Angeles County to unite against and speak out against hate, as well as to empower those who have been victims of hate. motivated acts.