A Black woman who suffered devastation after a racist group destroyed her car, has now replaced the vehicle with the help of the Los Angeles Police Department. In a video posted to Twitter, the LAPD showed the woman struggling to contain her emotions as she received her brand new vehicle, which was presented with a pink bow in front of several officers at the police station.
After arresting a suspect for a Hate Crime/Vandalism, @LAPDHollenbeck knew there was more that could be done. They partnered with East LA Auto Sales, @Badgeofheart and @LAPPL to get the victim a new car—and remind us all that in this world, we can all go the extra mile. pic.twitter.com/E2GLB11RIL
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 19, 2020
According to CBSLA, police said gang members destroyed the old car in a hate crime incident. One suspect has been arrested for the crime, but police haven't confirmed the name of the person, the date of the incident or the charges to come.
“They jumped on the hood, they jumped on the roof, they carved into the paint racial names, and ultimately destroyed the car, it was a total loss,” LAPD Captain Rick Stabile said in the Twitter video.
The LAPD said the gift was possible with partnership from East LA Auto Sales, the L.A. Police Protective League, the union for LAPD officers and the nonprofit group Badge of Heart.
Social media users struggled to find the words to describe the generous act.
I truly love this I’m at a lost of words & really can’t articulate how great this is. May God please all the good hearted Police Officers all over the world.
— focused_on_fatherhood (@FatherhoodOn) November 19, 2020
The word "amazing" came up often.
Absolutely amazing ????????????
— Ishag Shafeeg #IbuFaisal (@ishagshafeeg) November 19, 2020
In a time of escalating tension between law enforcement and the Black community, people were happy to see a positive encounter.
You guys are the best! Love to see this healthy relationship between law enforcement and the community it protects.
— Beatrice Cardenas (@RealBetyCardens) November 19, 2020
Love the act of kindness from LAPDHQ. Hope all police all over the world learn from this and do the same. Thank you!
— Naseem Marshall (@MarshallNaseem) November 19, 2020
As Blavity previously reported, a study from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations concluded white supremacist crimes increased by 38% in the region last year, marking the highest number of violent hate crimes reported in the county in more than a decade.
Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza, who lives in Los Angeles, revealed last month that she was identified as a potential target of white supremacist groups. The 39-year-old said the FBI identified an Idaho man who plotted to attack her.
“The FBI visited my house today. They arrested a man in Idaho on weapons charges who they believe was affiliated with white supremacist groups,” the activist tweeted. “They found my name on a list in his home, alongside others.”
The FBI visited my house today. They arrested a man in Idaho on weapons charges who they believe was affiliated with white supremacist groups. They found my name on a list in his home, alongside others.
— Alicia Garza (@aliciagarza) October 23, 2020
Garza blamed President Donald Trump's history of racist rhetoric for the ongoing incidents of hate crimes around the country.
"This is why this President is so dangerous," she said. "He is stoking fires he has no intention of controlling. I’m ok y’all, but this s**t is not OK. Vote this muthaf***a out. For real."
This is why this President is so dangerous. He is stoking fires he has no intention of controlling. I’m ok y’all, but this shit is not ok. Vote this muthafucka out. For real.
— Alicia Garza (@aliciagarza) October 23, 2020
According to The Washington Post, hate crimes increased by about 2.7% nationally last year. In the same year, the FBI reported 51 hate-motivated killings in the country, the highest total since the agency started recording the data in 1992.
