By Sydney Williams
California Attorney General Rob Bonta brings a social justice perspective to his new role leading the state’s Department of Justice. Bonta was born in Quezon City, Philippines to mother Cynthia and father Warren, who were serving as missionaries at the time. Two months later, his family moved to La Paz, headquarters of the United Farm Workers of America movement, located in the foothills of California’s Tehachapi Mountains. Growing up surrounded by members of United Farm Workers, he learned his first lessons about equality. “At the Farmworkers headquarters, every family was equal. It didn’t matter your race, where you were from, or the role you played. Everyone was part of the movement and was treated with dignity and respect,” said Bonta. The lessons of equality, fairness, and justice for all people remained with him and continue to influence him and his values today.
Attorney General Rob Bonta speaking at the Filipino Farmworkers site. Photo courtesy of Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Bonta recalls his parents as activists to their core and fierce forces for fairness, serving on the frontlines of some of America's most powerful social justice movements. He recalls, “Their fight for justice has been hardwired into who I am, ultimately why I decided to become an attorney — to help right historic wrongs and to fight for people who have been harmed.”
Rob Bonta as a child with his father Warren Bonta and older sister Lisa. Photo courtesy of Attorney General Rob Bonta.
In a family where serving others is believed to be the highest calling, Bonta watched his parents put principle into action from a very young age, working alongside social justice giants such as Dolores Huerta, César Chávez, and Philip Vera Cruz to fight injustices and right historic wrongs. Bonta says, “From them, I learned that an injustice against one, is an injustice against all.” He continues to share:
“Everything I do is motivated by the pursuit of more opportunity, equity, justice, and inclusion for Californians. That is what drove me while I was serving in the California state legislature, and that’s what drives me as California’s Attorney General. As Attorney General, Californians’ fights will be my fights. Right now, there are still too many who are wronged in California. Too many who become victims of trafficking, abuse and mistreatment. Too many who are treated unfairly by the many broken parts of the criminal justice system, and deserve more justice, more humanity, and a second chance. Too many who have been cheated by big corporations or lied to as part of an organized scam or fraud. As Attorney General, I will use the tools of the Department of Justice to fight for each and every person who calls California home. That being said, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, and addressing hate crimes will be my top priorities.”
As a person who has been a part of a family that faced and overcame immense struggle and injustice, Bonta is truly a product of the people and for the people. His unique perspective and ability to see from the viewpoint of those being affected most is what California needs; someone who will prioritize criminal justice reform and make long lasting changes.
“Criminal justice reform has long been a focus of mine, and that won’t change now that I am the Attorney General. As we reckon with racial injustice in California and across the country, we must rethink policing and work to rebuild trust between law enforcement and our communities. Law enforcement officers are invaluable parts of our communities, and the vast majority of them do want to build back or earn that trust. But you can’t have trust without accountability,” said Bonta.
Bonta and his team are not just talking about what needs to be done. They are taking action. From implementing legislation that will foster safety in communities statewide, to expanding environmental justice efforts, fearless defenders of justice in California will have the tools they need.
Attorney General Bonta stands by a picture of his mother, Cynthia Bonta, a lifelong activist. Photo courtesy of Attorney General Rob Bonta.
“One of the most important things my office is going to do in the coming weeks and months is implementing AB 1506, a law I was proud to co-author as an Assemblymember. It requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct outside, thorough investigations of all officer involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed Californian. We also have to do better at supporting and training law enforcement so they are better equipped at things like de-escalation, identifying and investigating hate crimes, and reducing and removing implicit and explicit bias,” he shares. They are building on the Department of Justice’s environmental justice efforts. Earlier this month, his office announced the expansion of the Department’s Bureau of Environmental Justice. With more attorneys and resources, California will be able to strengthen enforcement and better protect communities who live at the intersection of pollution and poverty.
Not only did Bonta take a page from his parents’ book in his social justice and equity pursuits, but also in his parenting style. He follows in his own parents’ footsteps in modeling the same passion, strength, and dedication that he was fueled by for his own kids. While he is a lifelong public servant committed to racial, gender, and social equality, Bonta shares that, “The most important titles I’ll ever have are husband and dad. When in doubt, I shower my three amazing children with love and unconditional support.”
Attorney General Rob Bonta with his wife, Mia Bonta, and children. Photo courtesy of Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Fatherhood is a multifaceted role, especially with daughters. Modern day feminism is a call to action for all people, including men, to get involved in the movement and to speak out in support of women’s rights and gender equality for all. No one should be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, or status – a concept that Bonta has been facilitating since stepping in as California Attorney General in April 2021 and seeks to push forward throughout his time in office.
Bonta’s time in office began amidst global chaos brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This period in history has come with a unique set of challenges that were unforeseen in many ways. In light of these unprecedented times, racially motivated hate crimes have dramatically increased across the state. Bonta says, “Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in attacks against the API community. For example, a recent study from the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism reports that Anti-Asian hate crimes in the city and county of San Francisco rose 140%. That is not only outrageous, it is unacceptable. Members of the API community are being attacked, spit on, and even murdered. Our children are suffering from racist bullying and our beloved elders can no longer enjoy life’s daily routines without fear of being attacked or assaulted. All communities deserve to be seen, to be valued, and to be protected.” He says the matter is personal to him and that he will not be standing on the sidelines. He shares, “I intend to use my position as the people’s Attorney to help law enforcement better identify and investigate hate crimes, strengthen services that help people heal, and improve the reporting and tracking of hate crimes.”