By Lila Brown for The LA Sentinel
Originally published Oct. 28, 2026
LA County residents who experience or witness hate can now seek help through a text message, expanding access to free, confidential support for people facing discrimination, harassment and bias-motivated hostility.
LA vs Hate launched its Text-to-Report service Oct. 19, allowing residents to text “HATE” to 52211 to begin a report. The service supports 15 languages and allows users to submit photographs, videos, voice recordings and documents.
Residents can also report incidents by calling 211 or visiting LAvsHate.org.
The county initiative connects people with support after hate incidents, including conduct that may not constitute a crime. Residents do not need to determine whether an incident meets a criminal threshold before reaching out.
Anyone facing an emergency or immediate danger should call 911. LA vs Hate provides reporting assistance and support services through 211 LA, a nonprofit organization that is separate from law enforcement. Reporting through the program does not replace contacting police when a law enforcement response is needed.
The new service debuted during United Against Hate Week, Oct. 18-24, at the San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center. The launch comes as the county continues to confront high levels of reported hate.
According to the county’s 2024 Hate Crime Report, authorities recorded 1,355 hate crimes, the second-highest total in the report’s 44-year history. The report also documented a record 147 hate crimes at schools.
At the launch, parent Desiree Brown described receiving assistance after her elementary-school-aged-son experienced anti-Black racial taunting at Valencia Valley Elementary School. A referral from NAACP Santa Clarita connected the family with an LA vs Hate/211 care coordinator.
“Hate and discrimination can have a profound impact on individuals, families and our community,” said Tim Ryder, president and CEO of the San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center.
After texting “HATE” to 52211, users receive automated questions about what happened. The system asks for information such as the incident’s location, date and approximate time, the type of harassment experienced and why the person may have been targeted.
Residents can include available information about those involved and attach supporting materials directly through text messages.
The system supports English, Spanish, Korean, simplified and traditional Chinese, Armenian, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Russian and Arabic. Instructions and translated keywords are available at LAvsHate.org/texttoreport.
Users have nine minutes to answer each question, with reminders sent every three minutes. If no response is received, the session closes and information already submitted is recorded. Users receive instructions encouraging them to begin a new report.
Support after reporting
Reports can be submitted anonymously. People who want additional assistance can opt in to care coordination and referrals, including connections to community organizations and other resources.
A care coordinator will follow up by phone within three business days. If the individual cannot be reached by phone, the coordinator will follow up by email.
According to 211 LA, information is confidential and shared only with the individual’s consent, unless disclosure is required by state law to prevent harm. The organization says it uses encrypted systems and trains staff in confidentiality and cybersecurity.
211 LA is not affiliated with law enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any agency with police authority.
County officials encourage both people targeted by hate and witnesses to report incidents and learn what assistance is available.