Residents of Goleta and the western Santa Barbara County coast, including Isla Vista and surrounding areas, regularly encounter ongoing concerns for personal safety, prompting a constant evaluation of their surroundings. This daily exercise of ensuring safety extends to many individuals with intersecting identities, including people of color and trans people, who navigate a society where various forms of hate remain deeply embedded. The collective experience includes unspoken agreements, such as the common practice among young women to “text me when you get home,” acknowledging that journeys home are not always safe. Similarly, within the Jewish community, concerns arise regarding the security measures at places of worship before services.
While the FBI reported a decline in hate crimes in 2025, these statistics may not fully represent the reality on the ground. Hate crimes often go unreported, either because individuals do not feel secure reporting to law enforcement or because agencies may lack the necessary training, resources, or requirements to properly identify and document such incidents. Beyond reported numbers, pervasive hateful rhetoric, threats, and violence continue to influence daily life, extending into online spaces and mainstream conversations.
The local community has experienced the profound impact of hate-motivated violence. Twelve years ago, six individuals were killed and 14 injured in Isla Vista due to a man's hatred of women. This tragedy marked the local area significantly. Additionally, eight years ago, an antisemitic attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh resulted in the deaths of 11 congregants and injuries to six others, serving as another stark example of targeted violence.
These incidents underscore a troubling trend: the normalization of hate over the last decade. Beliefs once considered fringe, including antisemitic, misogynistic, racist, and anti-immigrant ideologies, are now visible in mainstream discourse, mirroring those held by the attackers in Isla Vista and Pittsburgh. This normalization is also evident in government, where leaders, including the president and members of Congress, are described as not only legitimizing but actively promoting hateful rhetoric and conspiracy theories. Furthermore, hate and violence are becoming systematized through executive orders and legislation, transforming policy from a protective shield into a weapon that fosters an environment where hate can flourish.
This systemic normalization contributes to a pervasive sense of insecurity. People question institutional protection when grants supporting victims and prevention programs are canceled, and when laws like Title IX are weakened, particularly affecting trans individuals, rather than protecting survivors of gender-based and sexual violence.
For those who grew up with social media and continuous news cycles bringing reports of hate directly into their homes, understanding how to address this environment can be challenging. However, there are individuals and organizations with extensive experience in combating hate. The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) works to dismantle antisemitism and hate across communities, advocating for institutions and laws that protect individuals from violence, discrimination, and hate. The NCJW has pursued this mission for over a century, recognizing that progress requires sustained effort.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act, enacted 17 years ago this week, exemplifies the perseverance needed to disrupt hate, having been the result of nearly 20 years of advocacy. Building a safer world requires leaders committed to fighting against hatred, not embracing it, and depends on collective action from partners, allies, friends, and neighbors. The ongoing effort aims to ensure that rights, safety, and dignity are not subject to debate, ultimately working towards a future where the urgent need for a universal pact for safety no longer exists.
