LOS ANGELES – As hate crimes rise in Los Angeles County to their highest levels in 20 years, Los Angeles District Attorney candidate John McKinney announced today his plans to enhance the scope and role of the county’s Hate Crime Division when elected District Attorney later this year with a goal to “replace hate with hope.”
“We’re at a crossroads when it comes to hate crimes and the infringement of civil rights on many of our residents,” McKinney says in the announcement. “Hate crime enhancement has been an underutilized tool in the failed DA George Gascón administration, and that ends when I’m elected as the next Los Angeles District Attorney.”
In a video released today by the campaign, McKinney says, “As your next district attorney, I refuse to let hate divide us. That is why I am committed to creating a dedicated Hate Crimes Unit in the DA’s office.”
His key ideas include launching an anonymous hotline for people to report possible hate crimes directly to the DA’s office, pro-active community work, and education and outreach.
The anonymous hotline would provide “already victimized people a safe space to share their experience or criminal behavior they’ve witnessed without further victimization or judgment by authorities,” McKinney says. “An anonymous hotline brings awareness of issues to the very authorities who can do something about it.”
McKinney is also committed to pro-active community work to help bridge differences and provide educational opportunities. He pointed to an overall increase in hate speech and crimes, with a recent notable uptick in antisemitic attacks.
“Los Angeles County needs to replace hate with hope, and to do that we need to bridge racial and cultural divides,” McKinney says. “Hate comes from a place of ignorance and misunderstanding. We need to build respect for others and demonstrate our commonalities over our differences. It’s not enough to prosecute hate crimes after they occur. We need to stop hate in its tracks before it erupts into violence.”
McKinney’s plans also include ongoing community discussions about improving race and cultural relations to build unity and trust among communities, their leaders and institutions.
“Hate crimes have a ripple effect on communities that create divisions, erode trust and breed further hostility. Openly discussing this issue, taking ideas from community leaders, and implementing them can build stronger and more harmonious communities where diversity is celebrated,” he says.
In announcing his plan, McKinney paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in championing human rights. “I truly believe Dr. King would agree that fighting hate crime is a moral imperative that embodies the values of compassion, empathy, and respect for human dignity, I look forward to expanding the reach of the DA’s Hate Crimes Division to ensure community members can walk freely without the fear of being discriminated against, regardless of their background.”
McKinney, a Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County for 25 years, is running to replace current District Attorney George Gascón. He has served on the Gang and Major Crime units, as well as in the Victim Impact Program.
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