Garcetti to Speak on Hate Crimes

Los Angeles Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti will discuss hate crimes Tuesday during a lecture at Mission College.

Garcetti will be the final speaker in Mission’s “Unity in Diversity” fall lecture series.

Previous speakers were Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar) and former UCLA biology professor and political activist Jorge Mancillas.

“[Garcetti] has been very involved in prosecuting hate crimes and addressing that issue in our society,” said Mission philosophy instructor Larry Andre, organizer of the three-part series.

A 29-year veteran of the district attorney’s office, Garcetti was elected to his second four-year term as D.A. last November after a closely contested race with Deputy Dist. Atty. John Lynch.

During his first term, Garcetti formed the office’s first Hate Crimes Unit as well as the anti-gang program Strategies Against Gang Environments (SAGE).

A Los Angeles native, Garcetti graduated from Washington High School in South-Central, USC’s School of Business and UCLA Law School.

Tuesday’s lecture will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Mission’s Campus Center, 13356 Eldridge Ave.

The free lecture is open to the public.

For more information, call Mission’s Student Services Office at (818) 364-7766.