COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act would improve data collection, reporting of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation that would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review hate crimes incidents reported during the public health emergency and strengthen enforcement of existing laws against hate crimes.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes against members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
A recent study from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism found a 164% increase in reports of crimes against AAPI individuals in the first quarter of 2021 as compared to 2020.
“Hate has no place in our communities, and the recent rise in violence against members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community is abhorrent and unacceptable,” said Rep. Axne. “Anti-Asian rhetoric, verbal harassment, and physical assaults – including some that have been fatal – must be rejected. Far too many of our friends and neighbors have experienced this bias and hatred firsthand; others still have had to live with the anxiety and fear that they may be the target of these despicable acts. I am proud to support this legislation, and I urge the President to quickly sign this bill into law to ensure we have the tools to root out hate in our communities.”
The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act works to combat anti-AAPI hate crimes, and hate crimes generally, by:
- Requiring the DOJ to conduct an expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes reported to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies; and,
- Issuing guidance to such law enforcement agencies on how to:
- Establish online reporting for hate crime incidents
- Collect data based on protected characteristics like race, color, or national origin
- Expand public education on raising awareness of hate crimes.
This legislation passed the Senate on April 22nd and now heads to President Biden for his signature.
Original source can be found here
