The Indonesian Consulate General In Los Angeles Collaborates With The FBI To Anticipate Hate-Motivated Crimes Against Indonesian Citizens In Southern California

JAKARTA - To provide maximum protection to Indonesian citizens, the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles (KJRI LA) in collaboration with the FBI held socialization about hate crimes.

The activity which was held at the meeting hall of the Indonesian Consulate General in LA was carried out in a hybrid manner and was attended by 30 representatives from Indonesian community nodes. Meanwhile, 70 other participants took part in the online discussion.

The purpose of this seminar is to anticipate crimes in the name of hate (hate crimes) which have become increasingly prevalent over the past year, especially hatred towards citizens of Asian descent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was attended by the head of the FBI Los Angeles, Kristi Johnson, along with representatives of the Indonesian people who represent various community organizations in southern California.

The speakers included law enforcement officers from the FBI, the United States Attorney Office (USAO)/United States Federal Attorney Representative in California, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. The activity was opened by the Indonesian Consul General in Los Angeles, Saud P. Krisnawan.

Indonesian Consul General Saud conveyed the importance of awareness and vigilance of Indonesian citizens in dealing with hate crimes against citizens of Asian descent in America.

"The partnership between the Indonesian community and the FBI and local law enforcement is key in preventing and handling hate crimes cases among the Indonesian community in the Indonesian Consulate General's work area", he said in a written statement to the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles, Monday, September 6.

Meanwhile, in her speech, the Head of the FBI Los Angeles, Kristi Johnson, welcomed the collaborative efforts made by the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles with the Indonesian community in preventing hate crimes.

According to her, the security forces are very dependent on reports from communities in society, including the Indonesian Community in Los Angeles and its surroundings. The Los Angeles FBI requested that the Indonesian community not hesitate and not be afraid to report if they see incidents that are suspected of being motivated by hatred and ensure that their identities will be protected.

Hate-motivated crimes are not only Asian Hate Crimes While in the presentations delivered by the presenters' information was obtained, but hate-crimes also took various forms. Among them are seeing physical stature such as Asian Hate Crimes, which during the pandemic, the number increased sharply in the US.

Hate Crimes have a broader category than that, which includes crimes with anti-ethnic motives, religions, races, and groups in society, including Islamophobic, anti-Semitic movements including white supremacists.

Increasing awareness to the public through meetings with law enforcement officers can make the Indonesian community in the working area of the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles have high vigilance.

It is hoped that these activities can foster strong trust in law enforcers to immediately report cases that arise in the community.

Currently, it is estimated that 60 thousand Indonesian citizens are scattered throughout the working area of the Indonesian Consulate General in LA, which consists of the states of Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Utah, Southern Nevada, Southern California, including territories in the Pacific islands (Samoa, Guam, and the Mariana Islands). Based on the records of local law enforcement officers and the Indonesian Consulate General in LA, until now there have been no Indonesian citizens who have reported being victims of hate crimes.

In the general question and answer session, the questioners asked for certainty and commitment from law enforcement on this issue. In conclusion, the event provides recommendations so that Indonesian citizens are not afraid to report to local authorities if they experience an alleged hate crime incident or can also report it through the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles as part of efforts to protect Indonesian citizens abroad.