Photo Courtesy of Rep. Meng’s Office
“This discrimination and violence must end and it is why we are working to pass my critical bill,” Rep. Meng said.
By Forum Staff
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) joined Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) on Monday to push for the passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in the Senate this week.
The bill, called the COVID-19 Hate
Crimes Act, would address the rise of hate crimes and violence targeted at Asian Americans by designating a specific point person at the Department of Justice to expedite the review of COVID-19-related hate crimes, providing more support for state and local law enforcement to respond to such crimes, and improving overall communication related to this unacceptable uptick in violence and worry.
“The ongoing anti-Asian hate has been horrific, especially incidents committed against our elderly Asian Americans. I am honored to have introduced the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with Sen. [Mazie] Hirono to address this disgusting pattern of bigotry and violence,” said Meng, who introduced the measure in the House. “Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been some 3,800 reported attacks against Asian Americans and the number is likely higher since many incidents go unreported. Even in my own district in Queens, New York, Asian Americans have been assaulted. To help combat the problem, we need DOJ to prioritize addressing these heinous acts by designating a point person for these COVID-19 related hate crimes; making it easier for victims to report crimes committed against them; and expanding public education campaigns to address COVID-19 hate crimes and incidents. This discrimination and violence must end and it is why we are working to pass my critical bill. I look forward to the measure becoming law.”
The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act directs the Department of Justice to:
- Designate a DOJ employee to assist with expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes reported to federal, state, and/or local law enforcement;
- Provide guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies to: establish online reporting of hate crimes or incidents, and to have online reporting available in multiple languages; expand culturally competent and linguistically appropriate public education campaigns, and collection of data and public reporting of hate crimes; and
- Issue guidance detailing best practices to mitigate racially discriminatory language in describing the COVID–19 pandemic, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the COVID–19 Health Equity Task Force and community-based organizations.
Schumer explained that having someone at DOJ who can lead on this issue will help expedite local cases that demand immediate review. He said legislation like this would also give locals more help, should they need federal support in weighing a hate crime charge. He also said online reporting of crimes like this should not all fall solely on locals, and that the federal government should be a partner in that process.
“A plan like this would also allow us to look at communities where these attacks are reoccurring, and possibly deliver even more federal resources in the form of coordination, federal funds, or even outreach campaigns. These are costs that might otherwise be incurred solely by the city, but in actuality should be supported by the federal government,” he added. “To overcome this scourge, we all have to work together.”
