{"id":20220,"date":"2025-10-23T21:59:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T21:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/20220\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T21:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T21:59:09","slug":"oaklands-chinatown-mural-together-we-rise-turns-unity-into-action-during-united-against-hate-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/20220\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland\u2019s Chinatown mural \u201cTogether, We Rise\u201d turns unity into action during United Against Hate Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Source<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Presented by California vs Hate<\/a>, a program of the California Civil Rights Department<\/p>\n

In 2021, a 91-year-old man was shoved to the ground<\/a> in Oakland\u2019s Chinatown \u2014 one of several attacks that left elders afraid to walk their own streets. Those incidents became a flashpoint, sparking volunteer patrols, safety walks, and a city-wide call for change.<\/p>\n

Four years later, a red and teal dragon now watches over the same neighborhood. Painted across 993 Jackson Street, the new mural, Together, We Rise, was created through a partnership between California vs Hate, a program of the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), and the Oakland Roots & Soul Sports Club, as well as other local organizations. The piece transforms pain into purpose, marking the start of United Against Hate Week with a message that\u2019s equal parts beauty and defiance.<\/p>\n

Created by the Oakland-based Illuminaries Artist Collective, the mural blends icons of Chinatown and local life with symbols of peace, unity, and guardianship embodied by the mythical \u201cOakness Monster.\u201d It celebrates Oakland\u2019s multicultural heritage and reminds residents that strength comes from standing together.<\/p>\n

Trending on NextShark: Oakland\u2019s Chinatown mural \u201cTogether, We Rise\u201d turns unity into action during United Against Hate Week<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cUnited Against Hate Week is about more than awareness \u2014 it\u2019s about action,\u201d said Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish. \u201cWith reports of hate crimes on the rise, Californians need resources for support and spaces to come together in solidarity. This mural is a testament to the resilience of people across California and a reminder that when we stand united, we can build communities rooted in justice and belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A community answer to hate<\/p>\n

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United Against Hate Week began in 2017 as Berkeley\u2019s local response to white-supremacist rallies. Today, it has grown into a nationwide movement of murals, workshops, and civic actions reminding residents that hate has no home here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are always stronger when we come together,\u201d said California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Secretary Tomiquia Moss. \u201cUnited Against Hate Week is a chance for everyone from all walks of life to speak out against hate. I\u2019m so proud of the leaders across California who are building up our communities instead of tearing them down.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Oakland launch brought together partners from arts, sports, and advocacy, including California vs Hate, Oakland Roots & Soul Sports Club, Toishan Benevolent Association, Not In Our Town, Service West, the San Jose Sharks, and the Oakland Ballers \u2014 all standing united for the same cause.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs a first-generation Afghan American born and raised in Oakland and the Bay Area, this mural and its message resonate deeply with me,\u201d said Oakland Roots and Soul SC Co-founder Edreece Arghandiwal. \u201cThe message of love first is profoundly important especially in this time we currently live in. Oakland is a champion of inclusivity and a beacon of purpose to the world. This mural is a physical representation of the ethos of Oakland Roots and Soul SC and our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Turning reports into real help<\/p>\n

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While hate crime reports in California have risen more than 50% since 2020, most incidents still go unreported. To close that gap, California vs Hate launched in 2023 as the state\u2019s first multilingual statewide hotline and resource network for reporting hate incidents and crimes.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople want support,\u201d Kish said in an interview with NextShark. \u201cThey don\u2019t want to feel alone or ignored. This program gives them a place to turn in their language and connects them to resources they decide they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through a care coordinator, callers can access legal aid, counseling, or other services without having to engage with the criminal legal system. Reports can be made anonymously in 15 languages online and in over 200 languages by phone.<\/p>\n

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Report hate: CAvsHate.org<\/a> | 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Why reporting matters<\/p>\n

Kish acknowledges that many victims, especially elders or immigrants, hesitate to report. But every story, he said, strengthens the community\u2019s ability to respond.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting this data about where things are happening and to whom helps communities be more resilient and responsive,\u201d he said. \u201cReporting, even anonymously, shows that we don\u2019t stand for it in California.\u201d<\/p>\n

A recent CRD-UCLA survey found that roughly one in 11 Californians (roughly 3.1 million people) experienced at least one act of hate in 2024. For adults, incidents most often occurred on streets or sidewalks; for youth, online or at school. An earlier survey also found high rates among Native communities and people with disabilities, groups often missing from official law-enforcement data.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Why Oakland\u2019s Chinatown<\/p>\n

Oakland\u2019s Chinatown has long been a symbol of immigrant resilience \u2014 and, in recent years, a community shaken by attacks on Asian seniors. That history made it a natural place for the mural\u2019s message of solidarity.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s mural unveiling reminds us how, when we come together, community triumphs over hate and violence,\u201d said Oakland City Councilmember Charlene Wang. \u201cLet\u2019s celebrate this achievement, and continue the work of community building so Oakland Chinatown, and all communities, can be free from hate and violence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art that meets people where they are<\/p>\n

Kish said that for public outreach, art often succeeds where policy flyers can\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless something happens to you, you\u2019re not searching government websites,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople are at games, festivals, in front of murals. Art and storytelling reach people where they already are \u2014 and that\u2019s how real change starts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMany thanks to Oakland Roots and all partners involved for giving us the opportunity to channel our creative energy into something that shines a light on our people, our community, and our Town,\u201d said Illuminaries, the artist collective who created the mural.<\/p>\n

A hopeful path forward<\/p>\n

Even as hate incidents rise, Kish said the progress gives him hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the first time, California has tools and programs that truly respond to what people need,\u201d he said. \u201cCompared to our parents\u2019 generation, we\u2019re handing our kids something more hopeful \u2014 something that actually works.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you experience or witness hate:<\/p>\n

Visit CAvsHate.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Call 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283)<\/p>\n

Multilingual, anonymous, confidential. For emergencies, call 911.<\/p>\n

The Together, We Rise mural is located at 993 Jackson St, Oakland, CA 94607.<\/p>\n

Media provided by Caravan Film Crews<\/a><\/p>\n

Download the NextShark App:<\/p>\n

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[Source] Presented by California vs Hate, a program of the California Civil Rights Department In 2021, a 91-year-old…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20221,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[7,13005,16645,16646,16643,16642,143,145,144,8450,98,16644],"class_list":{"0":"post-20220","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-oakland","8":"tag-california","9":"tag-chinatown","10":"tag-chinatown-mural","11":"tag-civil-rights-department","12":"tag-hate-crimes","13":"tag-hate-week","14":"tag-oakland","15":"tag-oakland-headlines","16":"tag-oakland-news","17":"tag-oakland-roots","18":"tag-san-jose-sharks","19":"tag-united"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20220\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}