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| Senator Mazie Hirono, left, and Rep. Grace Meng. |
It has been four months since the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act was signed by President Biden and two Asian American lawmakers who sponsored the act are still waiting to see some results.
As attacks against AAPI continues to mount, Congressmember Grace Meng, D-NY, and Senator Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland to ask for progress on reducing hate crimes and incidents, and the implementation of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation.
The letter was sent Monday (Sept. 19), four months after the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act was signed into law. It details key elements of the law that must be implemented to make progress combating hate, and highlights the need to provide guidance to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on reporting hate crimes as well as incidents.
The letter — which highlights the increased violence toward older Asians and the Atlanta-area spa shootings that killed eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent — follows a recent FBI report that showed that the number of hate crimes last year was the highest in more than a decade.
The letter — which highlights the increased violence toward older Asians and the Atlanta-area spa shootings that killed eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent — follows a recent FBI report that showed that the number of hate crimes last year was the highest in more than a decade.
The FBI report acknowledges that the number of hate crimes is most likely an undercount. As Meng's and Hirono's letter points out, most local law enforcement agencies report no hate crimes, including 64 jurisdictions with populations over 100,000.
“In addition to expediting review of hate crimes, the law requires DOJ to issue guidance to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies," Meng and Hirono wrote in their letter.
"Specifically, section 4(a)(1) calls for guidance on how to establish online reporting for hate crimes, as well as incidents. The inclusion of incidents was intentional and is a critical component for any reporting system. Many acts of discrimination do not rise to the level of a hate crime…. In order to meaningfully address the root causes of this bias and hostility, we need a clear and full picture of the scope of the problem. Data on hate crimes alone is insufficient,”
The letter referred to a recent analysis from the reporting forum Stop AAPI Hate that revealed over 9,000 anti-Asian bias incidents the coronavirus pandemic swept across the nation. The incidents range from verbal harassment, bullying to physical attacks, some of which result in death of the victims.
The letter referred to a recent analysis from the reporting forum Stop AAPI Hate that revealed over 9,000 anti-Asian bias incidents the coronavirus pandemic swept across the nation. The incidents range from verbal harassment, bullying to physical attacks, some of which result in death of the victims.
The lawmakers explained that although not all acts of discrimination would meet the criteria to be labeled a hate crime, "the impetus for these actions are the same—fear and xenophobia."
"In order to meaningfully address the root causes of this bias and hostility, we need a clear and full picture of the scope of the problem," the letter went on. "Data on hate crimes alone is insufficient."
The letter continues, “As the pandemic wears on and COVID-19 variants cause states, localities, or private entities to reinstate restrictions or public safety mandates, frustration with the virus will undoubtedly resurface. We fear the impact this could have on perpetuating hate-based violence against people. Full implementation of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act will help stem the tide against further violence.”
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