Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law. The legislation will provide culturally and linguistically appropriate resources to federal, state, and local justice officials to monitor and address the surge in hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community since the start of the pandemic.
Following the passage of the bill, Nicole Lee Ndumele , vice president for Racial Equity and Justice at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Over the years, we’ve seen repeatedly how racist and inflammatory language has had violent and even fatal consequences for the AAPI community, and especially its elders. Members of the AAPI community have not only had to contend with the fear and loss caused by the COVID-19 virus itself but have also been the targets of a terrifying, deadly wave of violence. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act ensures that the justice system has the resources to adequately monitor and address attacks on the AAPI community in ways that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. We applaud Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) for their leadership in guiding this legislation, and commend President Biden for moving to quickly sign the bill after passage. The rare, bipartisan support that this bill received in Congress underscores not only the severity of the violence against the AAPI community but also the necessity in working together to fight racism and hate.
For more information or to speak to an expert, contact Julia Cusick at [email protected].