The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act Signals Accountability for Violence Against Asian and Other Communities of Color

Responding to President Biden signing into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which includes the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, Joanne Lin, National Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at Amnesty International USA, said:

“The enactment of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act is a major step forward to address racial violence by improving hate crimes reporting in order to hold government and law enforcement accountable to the needs of communities of color.  The U.S. must confront and uproot the systems of white supremacy that have contributed to the targeting, profiling, and scapegoating of communities of color.

Background

The new law provides for improved data collection and law enforcement policies on identifying, investigating, and reporting hate crimes; provides grants for state-run hotlines for reporting and connection to support services; and creates opportunities to restore communities and address the root causes of hate crimes through alternative sentencing for offenders.

Read more:

Amnesty International USA vote recommendation (policy, May 18, 2021)

The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act and NO HATE ACT are critical to ensure the justice system will address hate crimes (news, April 15, 2021)