Stamp Out Hate

by Maria S. Salinas

Our vision, A Thriving Region For All, is more than just a feel-good statement for the Chamber – it's a canvas and the "North Star" for the work we do every day. To that end, the Chamber is united with L.A. residents in stamping out hate in all forms – whether it's in the workplace, halls of government, or in our communities. If we are to build an equitable economy where residents thrive, we must eliminate hate speech and behavior. The Chamber is a proud coalition member of L.A. County's L.A. vs Hate: United Against Hate.

This annual week-long campaign focuses on actions which the community and businesses can take to build stronger connections with each other to ensure a more inclusive and accepting Los Angeles. When we work together, we can build an economy which creates upward economic mobility for the region's workforce and promotes business growth for all types of job creators – small or large.

This year's campaign has new meaning in light of the leaked audio tape from a few weeks ago. It sheds light on the responsibility each of us has to stop hate speech. Working in collaboration also has new meaning. It means taking the steps to ensure residents and businesses alike have the tools and training to identify acts of hate and how to report them. Taking action can start with going to LAvsHate.org and using the toolkit to get involved.

There is much work to be done to rebuild the damage done to our institutions and restore the public's trust, but it’s not impossible. This may sound aspirational, but the goal of addressing the complex issues facing this region is the driving force behind much of the Chamber's work.

Good must prevail over hate, and this United Against Hate Week, the Chamber stands with our coalition partners to stamp out hate. Read our statement on the United Against Hate Week here. Visit their website for resources.