Hate crimes up 15% in L.A. County

White supremacists and gangs are among the reasons for the increase, which contrasts with a statewide decline. Blacks are the most frequent target.

Almost 1 in 3 of the crimes occurred at homes, and nearly half involved vandalism, although there were also assaults and other acts of violence, including:

A Middle Eastern high school student in Simi Valley who was punched in the face several times by a Latino who said: “I hate Iraqis.”

A black man who was stabbed twice in the lower back while being attacked in Altadena by seven Latinos.

An Asian man who was walking in West Hollywood when a Latino driver pulled over, called him a homophobic slur and punched him in the face before fleeing.

Hate crimes up 15% in L.A. County – latimes.com