San Francisco DA Launches Hotline Amid Post-Election Hate Crimes
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Following the election of Donald Trump, there has been an uptick in hate crimes in the Bay Area and nationwide. District Attorney George Gascon has launched a hotline for residents to report hate crimes.
Many Latinos, Muslims, African-Americans and gays are catching hell right now, victims of hateful acts and harassment nationwide.
The Bay Area is not immune. This week, a Latina nanny with two toddlers was accosted in the Fort Mason area by a man who told her quote "No Latinos here."
Other incidents this week include a woman in Fremont wearing a headscarf had her car vandalized and a vulgar note was left behind. She was mistaken for Muslim when in fact she suffers from Lupus.
There were also reports of racist graffiti left at high school campuses in the East Bay.
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch reports a spike in hate crimes since Trump's ascendancy to the highest office in the land.
Gascon wants residents to know about the hotline, which can be reached at 415-551-9595. He said Friday such crime is tremendously under reported.
"Given the current environment, there are many people that are fearful of people contacting authorities, period. The fear of our communities is real," Gascon said.
Police commander Greg McEachern also issued a warning to hate mongers.
"Bigotry and hatred and acts that we've seen throughout this country this year, and most recently, will not be tolerated here in San Francisco," McEachern said.
