On Monday California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled the "Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism" as part of a statewide anti-hate agenda which includes increasing funds for security of religious institutions, Holocaust and Jewish heritage education, and addressing bias and harassment on college campuses.
"Antisemitism has proliferated at a shocking speed in recent years, globally and here in California. Jewish people make up about 3% of California’s population, but anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for 62.4% of all reported hate crimes involving religious bias in the state in 2022," according to the plan. "In California, anti-Jewish bias events increased 24.3% from 152 in 2021 to 189 in 2022. And violence and threats have escalated since the terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7."
Newsom's plan will invest $150 million for a multi-year "Stop the Hate" program to support hate crime and violence prevention programs, and provide community services for victims and survivors of hate acts. About $13 million will be granted to organizations serving religious minorities.
The plan also fosters California and Israel's economic and academic partnerships.
Goals to combat online hate and mitigate hate crimes
The plan also addresses online hate, supporting local law enforcement in holding perpetrators of hate crimes accountable and enforcing campus safety policies.
In a statement, Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California praised Newsom's plan which they requested in the aftermath of October 7. JPAC California said the plan is the result of five months of collaboration with Newsom's office and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus led by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and Sen. Scott Wiener.
"We are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom for answering our call to develop this historic Golden State Plan," the statement said. "With so much of Jewish communal life in California at stake, this strategy will help us reverse the normalization of rising antisemitism and make California a safer place for all."
Darcie Grunblatt contributed to this story.