US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday from his Twitter handle that he is going to sign the COVID-19 anti-Hate crimes. The bill will pave the way for legislation to stop hate crimes against Asian Americans that have been on the rise since the pandemic took place.
Biden stated in his tweet, “Hate has no place in America – and I look forward to making that clear this afternoon by signing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law.”
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Hate has no place in America – and I look forward to making that clear this afternoon by signing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 20, 2021
The bill will lead to the formation of a new position at the Justice Department to increase review of prospective COVID-19-related hate crimes and cases registered at the federal, state or local level.
The bill will also order the Justice Department and Health and Human Services to work with community-based organizations and give out guidance increasing awareness regarding hate crimes during the pandemic.
As per a recent study from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State University San Bernardino, registered hate crimes against Asians in 16 of the nation’s largest cities and counties have increased by 164% since this time last year.