As anti-immigrant hate rises, California’s $100 million Stop the Hate funding faces expiration

## Indian American Communities Face Rising Fears as California’s Stop the Hate Program Nears Expiration

As California's landmark Stop the Hate program approaches its June 30 expiration date, community leaders are warning that thousands of vulnerable families could lose access to critical services at a time when hate incidents and anti-immigrant rhetoric continue to rise across the United States.

Among the strongest voices calling for renewed funding is **Manjusha Kulkarni**, Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, who says South Asian, Indian American, Sikh, Muslim, and other immigrant communities are experiencing growing fear and uncertainty.

Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, California's Stop the Hate initiative has distributed more than **$100 million** to nonprofit organizations providing legal assistance, mental health counseling, safety education, language support, and community outreach for victims of hate crimes and discrimination. The program has since become a national model, inspiring similar initiatives in states including New York and Illinois.

Kulkarni says allowing the program to expire would leave many victims without trusted organizations that understand their language, culture, and unique challenges.

According to her, hate today extends beyond physical attacks. Communities are increasingly confronting racist rhetoric, online harassment, workplace discrimination, immigration-related intimidation, and policies that create fear among immigrant families.

She points to growing incidents in which South Asians are told to "go back to your country" or threatened with immigration enforcement simply because of their appearance or background.

Kulkarni argues that these incidents are being fueled by increasingly hostile political rhetoric, which she believes emboldens individuals to openly express prejudice that previously remained hidden.

She describes the current climate as a "trifecta of hate" — where inflammatory political language, restrictive immigration policies, and interpersonal discrimination reinforce one another and create an environment of fear.

Recent research has reflected those concerns. The percentage of South Asian adults reporting experiences of hate based on race, ethnicity, or nationality increased from **48% in 2024 to 54% in 2025**, highlighting a significant rise in bias incidents.

Kulkarni says many Indian Americans who once viewed California as one of the safest and most welcoming places in America are now questioning that assumption.

She explains that many first-generation immigrants believed education, professional success, and economic contributions would naturally earn acceptance in American society. However, recent developments have challenged that belief for many families.

Parents are increasingly worried about their children's future, public safety, birthright citizenship debates, visa uncertainty, and whether future generations will continue to feel welcome in the United States.

Organizations supported through Stop the Hate—including South Asian Network, SAHAAS for Cause, the Jakara Movement, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)—have used grant funding to provide legal advocacy, mental health support, civil rights education, and culturally appropriate community services.

Kulkarni says these organizations often become the first point of contact for families experiencing harassment or discrimination and help victims navigate both legal systems and emotional recovery.

She also emphasizes that hate is affecting many communities beyond Asian Americans, including Black Americans, Native communities, Middle Eastern and North African populations, Muslims, Sikhs, and Jewish communities.

Supporters argue that renewing the program is not only about responding to hate crimes but also about strengthening trust between vulnerable communities and public institutions while ensuring victims know they are not alone.

As lawmakers debate California's budget priorities, advocacy groups continue urging legislators to preserve funding, warning that the need for these services has not diminished—and may be greater today than when the program was first created.

For Kulkarni, the issue ultimately goes beyond funding. She believes California faces a defining choice about the kind of society it wants to build—one that embraces diversity and protects vulnerable communities, or one where fear and discrimination continue to grow unchecked.