Denouncing Hate Crimes

Floor Speech

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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly and fervently denounce hate crimes in any form anywhere in America.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this country has witnessed a shocking rise in hate crimes against Asians and Asian Americans. Between the onset of the pandemic to the end of last year, there have been over 2,800 reported incidents of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans.

In New York City, an Asian woman was waiting in line at a bakery when she was brutally pushed to the ground, hitting her head. On the New York City subway, racial slurs have been uttered toward Asian riders and seniors have been physically attacked. In fact, in 2020, the NYPD reported that 10 percent of all bias attacks were targeted towards Asians. That is a ninefold increase over the incidents probed in 2019.

I am proud to represent New York City's Chinatown on the lower east side of Manhattan and Brooklyn's Chinatown around 8th Avenue in Sunset Park.

On February 12, I joined so many others in welcoming in the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Ox. But this year, a dark undercurrent and collective anxiety around the rise in violence dampened the celebrations.

It goes without saying that my constituents and every one of our constituents ought to be able to go to work, walk to the grocery store, or ride public transportation without fear of a bigoted and even dangerous attack.

Mr. Speaker, this is not who we are as a nation. We do not let xenophobia, racism, and violence run rampant on our streets, in our cities, in our hearts. No. We take pride in our diversity. We understand that what brings us together is far greater than what divides us. And we need to bring justice to all the victims of these heinous crimes.

I am glad that in New York City, our mayor has created the Asian Hate Crime Task Force, and I encourage other cities and localities to take similar action.

We also need a sustained Federal presence to combat and prevent hate crimes. That is why in the past I have introduced legislation to allocate $50 million in Federal funds to help prevent, track, and prosecute hate crimes and assist victims. I look forward to reintroducing this bill.

I was also proud to cosponsor my colleague, Representative Grace Meng's, resolution to denounce the anti-Asian sentiment that has occurred since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Every one of us, everyone, has a responsibility to condemn and speak out against these attacks.

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