CA Highlights New Billboard Campaign to Help Combat Alarming Increases in Hate

As part of California’s coordinated response to nationwide increases in reported hate in recent years, CA vs Hate recently launched its first-ever billboard campaign to support increased awareness of the hotline and available resources across over half a dozen cities. 

The billboards are distributed across numerous California cities, including Sacramento, Modesto, San Francisco, Oakland, Chico, Redding, Stockton, and Oroville. The 12 billboards are focused on informing local communities about the services and support available to them when reporting hate.

The use of out-of-home advertising rounds out the state’s ongoing outreach campaign that also includes digital advertising, partnerships with ethnic media outlets, and outreach in collaboration with local nonprofits. The billboards are live through mid-August, serving as a reminder that there is no wrong door when seeking out help in the wake of hate.

Officially launched a little over a year ago by Governor Newsom, CA vs Hate is the state’s first-ever multilingual statewide hotline and online portal that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. In the first full year of operation, initial data shows approximately 1,020 acts of hate reported to the hotline.

While reported hate crime events in California decreased in 2023, reported hate crimes against California’s LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Muslim communities increased, underscoring the need for services for those who have been targeted for hate.