Advocates laud passage of anti-Asian hate crime legislation
Since last year, there have been more than 3,800 incidents of harassment, discrimination, and assault against Asian Americans.
Author: Doug Stewart (FOX61)
Updated: 3:23 PM EDT April 26, 2021
HARTFORD, Conn. — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General William Tong, State Treasurer Shawn Wooden and others gathered Monday morning to celebrate the Senate passage last week of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act as part of the COVID-19 Hates Crime Act.
The act was passed last week by a vote of 94-1.
“The reason this measure is so important it not only sends a message and takes that first step against hate crimes at a national and federal level," Blumenthal said. "It is a first step because it will spur more reporting, we know that hates crimes are notoriously under-reported, there has been a surge in hate crimes targeting Asian American and Pacific Islands, and we need to combat that surge. But equally important, incentivize and spur more reporting."