Sharp Rise in Hate Crimes in San Diego Highlights Growing Intolerance
San Diego has witnessed a startling 74% increase in hate crimes throughout 2023, a troubling trend revealed during the city council’s review of the annual crime statistics on May 20. This surge has predominantly been fueled by incidents targeting religious and sexual orientation groups.
The comprehensive 2023 Annual Crime Review disclosed that the total number of reported hate crimes escalated from 38 in 2022 to 66 in the following year. Particularly alarming was the rise in hate crimes based on sexual orientation, which quintupled from 4 in 2022 to 21 in 2023. Similarly, incidents of religious-based hate crimes saw a significant increase from 4 to 18 during the same period.
In a detailed breakdown, 44% of the religiously motivated hate crimes were identified as anti-Semitic, while anti-Christian and anti-Muslim incidents each accounted for 28%. This data highlights a disturbing rise in intolerance within the community, impacting diverse religious groups.
Despite the sharp increase in hate crimes, the city overall reported a slight decline in general criminal activity, with total crimes dropping by 2.7% from 63,758 in 2022 to 62,019 in 2023. Notably, the number of homicides decreased from 62 in 2022 to 56 in 2023, and non-fatal shootings also fell from 200 in 2020 to 175 in 2023.
However, the city council did not discuss any specific plans to address the rising hate crimes during the meeting, leaving the community with concerns about how these issues will be tackled moving forward. The increasing incidents of hate crimes against specific groups necessitate a focused response to ensure the safety and security of all community members.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate
