FULLERTON, Calif. — This week the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics report was released, and it showed that in 2019, there was a record high of reported hate crime murders.

The report showed 51 people were murdered as a result of hate crimes last year, double the number in 2018. Locally, according to a recent report from the Orange County Human Relations Commission (OCHRC), hate crimes have continued to increase in Orange County.

The OCHRC report found for the fifth year in a row hate crimes have increased in Orange County, increasing 24% last year compared to 2018.  

The commission is doing something about the continued upward trend. It has started an anti-hate initiative and a multimedia contest. The contest asks middle and high school students in the county to submit videos that promote cultural acceptance.

Orange County School of the Arts’ student Morgan Ang is planning to submit a video for the contest. Ang started by writing a short screenplay. He said one of the main scenes in the screenplay is about an Asian American teen confronted by a woman saying racist things.

Ang’s screenplay was inspired by real life situations.

“Some of my friends, they’re very, very casual about making some racist joke or making something that’s culturally inappropriate. I really do not like that. That’s why I’m making this video,” he said.

The commission said the pandemic has added to the race-related issues for at least one group. It indicated that 34 incidents of prejudice against Asian Americans in Orange County were reported between March 19 and April 15 of this year.

Ang said the statistics are not surprising, especially the ones involving Asian Americans like himself. Ang is a first-generation Indonesian. As a kid, he was teased about everyday things like growing up in a home where shoes were not allowed inside.

“I always thought it was common. I was confused sort of confused about why was this kid making fun of me,” he said.

Ang has also witnessed Asian friends be teased for bringing what the other kids considered exotic lunches. He said those incidents happened when he was a kid. The now high school freshman said those incidents, while seemingly minor, made him realize these types of things happen everywhere.

“You might not even realize it. I believe this campaign will raise awareness and bring knowledge.” 

That is why Ang said creating a video for this contest is more of an opportunity than about entering a contest.  

“My message overall is to sort of be aware of your actions and your thoughts,” he said.

Ang’s classmate, Grace Gilchrist, plays the protagonist.

“I say a lot of bad and racist things,” said Gilchrist about the screenplay.

In the pivotal scene, one of her lines was, “Well if anything, she’s from China. You should ask her to go home.”

During rehearsals, the last portion of the line was changed to, “You should ask her to leave.”

The other character Gilchrist is speaking about replies, “And also I am home. I am an American, and I have lived here my whole life. So, stop being racist and biased.”

Gilchrist said playing someone who is racists was uncomfortable.

“I think it’s a good experience because everybody needs to learn about this,” she said.

Ang said his screenplay is a teachable moment. Teaching something through his video was Ang’s main goal.

“I know everyone makes mistakes. And everyone has the ability to grow,” he said.

Ang hopes people who see his video will do as he was raised, to think before they speak or act.

The contest continues through December 4, 2020.  Each of the five Orange County Board of Supervisors will announce one winning campaign from their respective Supervisorial District.

The supervisors will pick the winners.

Winning submissions will receive $5,000 for their school to use to further anti-hate initiatives. Videos can be viewed on the contest website.