San Diego lawmakers are tackling the surge in hate littering head-on with the introduction of new legislation aimed at stamping out this cowardly form of harassment. Assemblymember Chris Ward, flanked by local officials, announced AB 3024 – The Stop Hate Littering Act – designed to put an end to the distribution of flyers, posters, and other materials bearing messages of hate targeting protected groups in California.
In a firm stance against these anonymous attacks, Assemblymember Ward said, "These are deliberate, targeted attacks that are intended to harass and intimidate victims, dehumanizing them based on their religion, gender or sexual orientation, or other characteristic." According to a press release by Ward's office, the hateful materials have been littering San Diego, appearing on windshields, driveways, and doorsteps, with no place in community life.
The Anti-Defamation League has witnessed a worrying trend, noting over 3,600 anti-Semitic acts in 2023 alone, a record high since the organization started tracking such incidents. San Diego has not been immune, with multiple instances of anti-Semitic flyers surfacing in local neighborhoods last year. And the hate isn't confined to the Jewish community; various protected groups have found themselves targets of these contemptible acts across California.
"Antisemitism and hate of all forms are not welcome in San Diego or anywhere in California – period," San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo said, endorsing the legislation. He stressed the statewide approach of the act, aiming to shield as many people as possible from such detestable behavior. Amid a rise in hate-motivated crimes, which saw a 20% increase from 2021 to 2022, current laws fall short against hate littering, with the new act poised to fill the gap.
San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott recognized the toll these actions have on communities, remarking, "This struggle started with the cowardly distribution of flyers designed to terrorize our Jewish neighbors and divide our city." She honored the fortitude of affected communities and organizations in pushing for legislative action. Meanwhile, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria condemned the literature as an affront to the city's respect, inclusivity, and diversity values.
The proposed Stop Hate Littering Act, lauded for its potential to hold perpetrators accountable and deter future hate acts, will face the Assembly Judiciary Committee in April as the next step in its legislative journey.
