Malliotakis Joins Bipartisan Condemnation of COVID-19 Related Hate Crimes & Racial Discrimination

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in voting for the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation that provides guidance to state and local law enforcement agencies, along with community organizations, on how to best mitigate racially discriminatory language or hate crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against members of the Asian-American community since the pandemic started, especially in New York City," Congresswoman Malliotakis said. "In the first five months of 2021 alone, the NYPD reported  180 hate crimes, a 73% increase in the number of hate crimes reported during the same period last year. The NYPD has increased its presence in and around predominately Asian communities and has placed Critical Response Command teams throughout the city. While this is a good start, the legislation passed today will further assist our law enforcement agencies and community organizations in identifying and mitigating these incidents before they occur."

Malliotakis added: "Asian-American parents and business owners are fearful to go to work, send their children to school, or even go out in public. This is simply unacceptable. We must come together to address this issue as a community, and I will continue to speak out against these targeted acts of violence and encourage those who may be victims to come forward so justice can be served."

More specifically, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act directs the Department of Justice to:

• Designate employees to assist with the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes reported to federal, state, and/or local law enforcement agencies;
• Provide guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies to:
• establish online reporting of hate crimes or incidents, and to have online reporting available in multiple languages;
• expand culturally competent and linguistically appropriate public education campaigns, and collection of data and public reporting of hate crimes; and

Issue guidance detailing best practices to mitigate racially discriminatory language in describing the COVID–19 pandemic, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the COVID–19 Health Equity Task Force and community-based organizations.