Photo by Adam Chau
The Senate passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act Thursday with a bipartisan vote of 94-1, CNN reports.
The bill was meant to denounce hate crimes against the Asian communities amidst the pandemic. It creates a new Justice Department position to coordinate the review of potential COVID-19 related hate crimes.
The bill was sponsored by New York Democratic Rep. Grace Meng and Hawaii Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono in March, according to NBC News. It gained more support in the wake of the Atlanta shootings that killed six Asian women on March 16.
Republicans were initially skeptical of the bill, questioning the effectiveness of the bill’s solutions. Ultimately, after deliberating over amendments, the bill received bipartisan support. Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley was the only Senator to vote against the bill.
Hirono said that the passage of the bill “sends a clear and unmistakable message of solidarity,” CNN reports. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed Hirono’s sentiments.
“This legislation sends a dual message to our Asian-American community: We will not tolerate violence and bigotry against you. And to those who perpetrate the violence and bigotry, we’re going to pursue you to the full extent of the law,” Schumer said at a press conference after the bill’s passage, according to MarketWatch.
The bill was amended to include Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act (Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act), WIBW reports. Its inclusion will improve data collection on hate crimes that are impacting people of color, religious minorities, immigrants, people with disabilities and the LGBTQ community.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC issued a statement applauding the Senate for passing the bill.
“Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC applauds the Senate for passing
this milestone legislation,” the statement reads. “The Asian American community has been facing two pandemics – the spreading virus of hate and racism and the global COVID-19 pandemic. It is past time for us to take action to address hate crimes and better support communities impacted by hate. We thank Senator Hirono and Representative Meng for their leadership in drafting this important bill. We also thank Senator Blumenthal and Representative Beyer for their leadership in the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act.”
The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans said the bill’s passage was an important step, but called for further community investment. NCAPA noted that Asian Americans were asking for an end to anti-Asian violence against a backdrop of police violence against communities of color. The organization is pushing for solutions to anti-Asian hate outside of law enforcement.
“The indiscriminate killing of people of color at the hands of police must stop,” NCAPA said in a statement. “Then we need a deeper commitment to invest in our communities, outside of law enforcement based solutions, so that we can address the sources of violence, not just the aftermath.”
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