There were 524 hate crimes reported in Los Angeles County in 2019 -- the largest number in ten years.
Those targeting transgender people rose by 64 percent - the highest number ever reported and nearly all of them were violent.
"This highlights the importance for all of us to increase educating ourselves and others on the humanity, the dignity and the right of all people to belong but particularly transgender people in our county community who are among the most least understood and the most vulnerable group in our society," says Robin Toma, executive director of the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations which released its annual report on hate crimes.
African-Americans were once again the largest group targeted comprising just 9% of county residents but making up 47 percent of racial hate crime victims.
There is a county campaign aimed at addressing the issue called LA vs Hate.
"It's about uniting the people of L.A. County but even more important it gives all of us a way to take action," Toma says.
Toma and others encouraged people to call 211 to report hate crimes or hate incidents.
