FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2026
CONTACT:
Tina Pham
tpham@aapiequityalliance.org
media@nakatomipr.com
SACRAMENTO – On the steps of the California State Capitol, state legislators and community leaders from across California today called on the Legislature to reauthorize funding for the Stop the Hate program, warning that failure to act will leave millions of Californians without critical protections amid rising hate and violence.
The news conference, held ahead of a key Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services hearing, brought together leaders from the California Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Legislative Caucus and community organizations to underscore the urgency of sustaining the state’s historic investment in community safety.
“The Stop the Hate Program is a vital social safety net program that has shown immense impact on Asian American, Pacific Islander, African American, Latinx, LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities.” said Assemblymember Mike Fong (AD-49), chair of the California AAPI Legislative Caucus. “We call on our colleagues in the Legislature to stand with us and to commit to sustained statewide funding that truly meets the scale of this public safety crisis.”
Established in 2021 in response to the surge in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stop the Hate has grown to support 180 trusted community-based organizations. From 2022 to 2025, Stop the Hate has assisted more than 22 million Californians through prevention, intervention, and direct survivor support services in response to hate acts.
“We have an opportunity now to stop hate in 2026, just as we did in 2021,” said Manjusha P. Kulkarni, executive director of AAPI Equity Alliance, and Stop the Hate Los Angeles County Regional Lead. “That’s why we’re here today to urge the Legislature to continue to invest in this critical social safety net program and uplift California’s values and civil society by renewing and refunding the program.”
According to the California Commission on the State of Hate’s (Commission) annual report released in 2026, many communities that have historically been targeted by hate continue to be disproportionately impacted. The Commission recommends ongoing support for the work of community organizations to uplift locally tailored solutions.
“These are real people who are targeted, harmed, and often left to navigate alone until this program stepped in,” said Kaying Hang, president of The Center at Sierra Health Foundation and Stop the Hate Northern California Regional and Statewide Lead. “The sad reality is that hate is still happening, and the need for this work continues to be in demand. If funding is not renewed, it’s not just about programs scaling back, we’re removing an essential lifeline for people who need it at the most vulnerable moments of their life.”
California legislators State Senator Aisha Wahab (SD-10), State Senator Scott Wiener (SD-11), Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (AD-10) and Assemblymember Ash Kalra (AD-25), joined Assemblymember Mike Fong (AD-49) to share how Stop the Hate funding plays a vital role for community organizations in preventing violence, reducing harm, and strengthening community resilience statewide.
“Continuation of the Stop the Hate program is critical for all California residents, regardless of where they live or how they look or how they dress,” said State Senator Aisha Wahab, Senate vice chair of the California AAPI Legislative Caucus. “Communities across the state will be left unprotected if this funding does not go through.”
With funding set to expire on June 30, Wahab urged California legislators “to prioritize and fully pass the funding for Stop the Hate Program in this budget cycle.”
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About AAPI Equity Alliance:
AAPI Equity Alliance (AAPI Equity) is a coalition of 50 community-based organizations serving the diverse needs of the 1.6 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County and beyond. It is dedicated to improving the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through civic engagement, capacity building, and policy advocacy.