By Evan Ward

Hundreds of thousands crowded Crenshaw Blvd. for the 19th annual Taste of Soul Festival on Oct. 19, an event that’s come to be known as California’s biggest block party.

Among the booths serving food and promoting local businesses, California Black Media (CBM) and the Civil Rights Department (CRD) worked to spread the word on California Vs. Hate, a new hotline and online system for reporting hate crimes across the state. Launched in 2023, the tool’s designed for easy access, so Californians can report hate crimes and incidents at a moment’s notice.

“In the heart of South L.A., half a million people come out for the one-day festival, bringing the best of our community,” said Brandon Brooks, director of CBM’s Stop the Hate project. “It’s more than a celebration,” he added, “it’s a chance to connect locals with statewide resources and real help.”

Brooks was joined by James Williams, manager for California Vs. Hate, and CBM’s Leah Brown-Goodloe, who spent the day sharing information and handing out literature to tens of thousands of festivalgoers about ways to combat hate crimes. The event also kicked off United Against Hate Week (UAHW), started in 2018 when Bay Area leaders came together against white supremacist rallies after Charlottesville. The initial idea was simple: a “United Against Hate” poster campaign. Today, it’s a national movement of events, from powerful panel talks to cultural gatherings, driving solidarity against hate.

The initiative grew with a push in Los Angeles, where LAvsHate gave people an anti-hate hotline and resources to report crimes. “It was the model,” said CRD director Kevin Kish. “We knew it had to go statewide.” This year, cities and counties around California took UAHW seriously, with events up and down the coast—including Santa Clara County, where Valley Transit Authority buses carried UAHW’s message on wrapped buses.

Not In Our Town, a movement that began in Northern California, tallied 131 UAHW events across 92 cities. “We saw gatherings, training sessions, and powerful panels promoting unity, understanding, and solidarity,” Not in Our Town said in a statement. “It’s about making a stand.”

Meanwhile, in June, Attorney General Rob Bonta released his Hate Crime in California Report, showing that reported hate crimes had dropped slightly—from 2,120 in 2022 to 1,970 in 2023. But numbers for Black Californians stayed high, with 518 cases. The next group on the list was Hispanic or Latino Californians, with 199 incidents. “Black Californians remain the biggest target,” said Williams. “We want them to know we’re working to bring resources right to them, from our first billboard campaign to new partnerships and events like these. There’s support when you report.”

Danny Bakewell Sr., CEO of Bakewell Media and founder of Taste of Soul, started the festival to celebrate and uplift Black life in L.A. “Taste of Soul is all about positive vibes, enjoying our community and each other in respect, peace, and pride,” Bakewell said. For Brooks, who grew up in L.A., it’s a chance to give back. “It’s a beautiful thing,” he said, “seeing friends and family enjoy the food, the music, the resources.”

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate program. The program is supported by partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www.cavshate.org/