Residents Urged to Submit Discrimination Testimony Ahead of State Commission at City Hall

Local community leaders are urging residents in Pasadena to share their experiences with acts of hate and discrimination—either through an online survey or by preparing live or Zoom testimony—so their experiences are part of the record when California’s State of Hate Commission convenes to gather evidence at City Hall in Pasadena on October 25.

“We really want to hear from students, families, educators and school board members on the work to eliminate discrimination in our school system,” said Jouslynn Griffin, first vice president of the Pasadena NAACP. “Anyone who’s experienced discrimination can submit feedback through a survey, show up, or participate through Zoom.”

The public hearing is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, at 11:30 a.m. in the Pasadena City Council Chambers, 100 N. Garfield Ave.

Public comment will be accepted both in person and via Zoom, with translation and specialized language support available by advance request. Organizers underscored that participation is open to the wider community, regardless of affiliation.

“Just because the Pasadena NAACP is the host does not mean this event is exclusive to them; this is open to the whole community. This is an opportunity for groups to explain cultural differences and to parallel those differences to similarities,” said Councilmember Tyron Hampton.

Timed during United Against Hate Week, the hearing will focus on discrimination in K-12 schools, placing special emphasis on student and family voices.

“Personally, I believe that the students’ voices should be uplifted and centered the most because this conversation is about their real life experience,” Griffin said.

State data indicate that 80 percent of hate incidents involving youth occur in schools. “Hate incidents” are self-reported acts gathered through surveys, distinct from “hate crimes,” which are tracked by law enforcement.

According to the California Health Interview Survey, 2.6 million Californians age 12 and older experienced hate acts from 2022 to 2023. Statewide hate-crime offenses rose 8.9 percent to 2,568 in 2024, while anti-LGBTQ+ bias cases increased by 13.9 percent as of September 13.

Residents may complete the online survey or register to speak at the hearing in person or via Zoom. Residents are invited to fill out the survey at https://forms.gle/tVEz4sfzeNqv5sd16, which organizers say will help ensure a comprehensive collection of community testimony for the hearing.

Translation and specialized language support are available for all who need it.