In response to the prejudice and hate violence directed at Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, a unique, massive comic-strip style mural is being unveiled today to educate and mobilize against hate, reflecting the power of art interventions to spark conversations around unity, solidarity, healing and resiliency.
In September 2019, Los Angeles County government embarked on an innovative project called LA vs Hate, to address the increase in hate violence and bias-motivated bullying reported by county residents. It’s spearheaded by L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis and the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations, part of the Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services department. A core component of the LA vs Hate program is using art to educate the public, strengthen solidarity and promote healing in the face of acts of hate and discrimination. Unveiled today at Garvey Park in Rosemead is the work of local artist MariNaomi. The 10 feet by 60 feet comic strip depicts the experience of being targeted based on race, and the journey from hate to healing.
"This project came to me right when I thought I was at my breaking point, after a woman who looked a lot like my obaachan (grandfather) got hate-crimed in my hometown,” said MariNaomi, illustrator of the comic mural. “It feels good to do something, to make art about it. I was starting to feel hopeless.”
On March 9, the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion condemning the rising violence directed at the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and calling for a County-wide response.
“The LA vs Hate program is a critical tool to combat hate in Los Angeles County, where our diversity is our strength,” shared Los Angeles County Supervisor Chair, Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor to the First District. ”Today’s unveiling is an expression of LA County’s commitment to combat racism and anti-AAPI hate, while uplifting the stories of AAPI community members who have made significant contributions to our county.”
“This mural-sized comic strip is LA vs Hate partnering with artists to use the power of art to reach our communities about changing how we respond to hate that happens to us or anyone,” stated Robin Toma, Executive Director for the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations and Assistant Director of the L.A. County Workforce Development, Aging & Community Services Department. “For the first time ever, anyone facing hostility because of their race, ethnicity, or the country they come can report it and get help, whether or not it’s a criminal act, via an online report at LavsHate.org, or by calling 2-1-1.”
The LA vs Hate program takes the reports of hate submitted to 211 and connects these residents with local and culturally-attuned organizations that can support them in the aftermath of hate, providing options such as legal assistance to counseling services, with partner organizations such as Asian Pacific Program and Planning Council (A3PCON), co-founder of the #StopAAPIHate national reporting initiative, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ) have been on the ground supporting communities nationwide to provide bystander training; and the Asian Youth Center, which has been working in schools with L.A. vs Hate staff to address the fear and anxiety that Asian students are expressing due to the rise in Asian-targeting hate violence.
In its efforts to reach more residents affected by hate crimes and incidents, LA vs Hate has expanded its partnerships, in this case with L.A. Care who is co-sponsoring the comic strip art installation and subsequent youth conversations that will bring healing to students as they return to school in the San Gabriel Valley.
“L.A. Care Health Plan unequivocally condemns the shameful Anti-Asian hate crimes that have spiked across the country since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are proud to support this healing art installation,” said James Kyle, MD, L.A. Care’s Medical Director for Quality, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “Our health plan recently sponsored the printing for 17,000 copies of booklets in nine different languages titled ‘How to a Report a Hate Crime’, because reporting hate incidents is the first step toward stopping hate.”
“This is a demonstration of what is possible when community members come together to stand in solidarity in the face of hate, heal from it, and recognize that by supporting each other we become stronger,” said Otto Solorzano, Acting Director of the LA County department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services. “This speaks to our vision statement, that we are an unstoppable force that uplifts and protects our most vulnerable, and creates vibrant and thriving communities, free from prejudice and inequity.”
In addition to the location in Rosemead, this mural sized art piece “We Are Stronger Together” has been posted in communities across the County - a representation of how we are all connected and can overcome hate by working together. Children will receive a poster size rendition of the comic mural so that they can participate in healing by coloring in their own renditions of the comic strip.
ABOUT LAvsHate
LA vs Hate has three components: a public education/outreach/social marketing campaign to unify LA county residents against hate and how to report it; a network of agencies to provide assistance and prevention strategies to prevent hate; and third, the ability to get free multilingual and confidential assistance by reporting acts of hate and bullying by calling 211-LA or going to www.LAvsHate.org. At 211-LA, case managers and a multi-agency team help residents who report bias and discrimination to access needed resources for healing from such experiences.