Civil rights officials said the hotline is designed to address underreporting of hate crimes by offering alternatives to law enforcementCalifornia’s statewide anti-hate hotline received nearly 1,200 reports in 2024, with most callers requesting follow-up support, state officials said Wednesday. Of the 1,180 reports received, more than two-thirds of people sought additional assistance, including legal aid, counseling and other resources, according to the department. Racial or ethnic bias was cited in 44% of reports, followed by gender identity, sex or sexual orientation (23%), religion (13%) and disability status (12%). Calls are handled by trained staff who connect people with local resources using a trauma-informed approach. “Hate remains a painful reality for too many of our neighbors,” First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said.