LOS ANGELES (March 23, 2022) - The Los Angeles Unified School District joins the City of Los Angeles to take a stand against hate with the LA For All campaign, a multilingual public service announcement campaign that shares tools for reporting hate, as well as amplifies messages of inclusion and belonging. The campaign, led by the city’s Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, also known as LA Civil Rights, is launching at 70 schools across the District with banners in English, Spanish, Korean and Chinese.
“At the heart of this powerful campaign is a sense of belonging,” Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “We want all students to feel that they belong in our community and we stand with the City of Los Angeles to educate our students about ethnic, gender, cultural and religious diversity and the important values of tolerance and inclusion.”
“Hate has no place in our communities, and Los Angeles Unified is proud to be a part of the campaign to build inclusion and stand up against intolerance and hate crimes," Los Angeles Unified Board President Kelly Gonez said. "What happens in the neighborhoods affects our schools, so it’s going to take all of us creating a climate of belonging and acceptance to combat hate wherever we find it.”
“Hate is reaching record highs in Los Angeles and across the nation,” LA Civil Rights Executive Director Capri Maddox said. “Young people are seeing this hate first hand, in their schools and in their communities. We must make it clear that LA is a city of diversity and belonging. We are so grateful to partner with Los Angeles Unified, because LA’s young people should have a leading role in building an LA for all.”
The nation’s second-largest school district is the latest partner to join the LA for All campaign, joining city parks, LA Metro, the Banc of California Stadium and others in what has become the largest anti-hate PSA campaign in LA city government history. Launched by LA Civil Rights in May of 2021, LA For All is rolling out in 18 languages on over 4,200 ad spaces in Greater Los Angeles. Click here to request your own LA for All poster.
Federal data show that, prior to COVID-19, hate crimes increased by an estimated 81% in K-12 public schools across the nation between the 2015-16 and 2017-18 school years. The same report revealed that one in four of all students aged 12 to 18 saw hate words or symbols written in their schools.
According to the Center for Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, Los Angeles recorded the most hate crimes among large U.S. cities in 2021, a 71% increase over 2020. Hate crimes have risen every year in Los Angeles since at least 2016, reflecting national trends. Hate crimes have been increasing steadily across the United States, with 2020 seeing the highest rate of hate crimes in 12 years, according to the FBI.
“Every student deserves to feel safe, loved and academically inspired, which begins with building a strong community rooted in inclusion and belonging for all,” Los Angeles Unified Chief Academic Officer Alison Yoshimoto Towery said. “The ‘LA For All’ campaign sends an important message that the Los Angeles Unified community stands with our city and Los Angeles Civil Rights + Human Rights and Equity Department against hate and empowers students and families to take positive action.”
Schools involved in the campaign include Farmdale Elementary in East Los Angeles (PHOTO), Augustus Hawkins High School in South Los Angeles (PHOTO), and Sepulveda Middle School in the San Fernando Valley (PHOTO). Each school will showcase the multilingual banners to students and the surrounding community.