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Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act

Floor Speech

Date: May 18, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Criminal Justice

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a deadly public health emergency, an economic crisis, and a disturbing rise in anti-Asian hate.

Unfortunately, discrimination against the AAPI community is not new. From the Chinese Exclusion Act to the internment of Japanese Americans, the U.S. has a long history of discrimination towards AAPI immigrants and their descendants. This new wave of xenophobia has led to fear, threats, and outright violence.

Madam Speaker, by passing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act today, we are standing up for our neighbors and against discrimination. We take this vote during AAPI Heritage Month, a time to acknowledge incredible contributions of this community and also the interconnection of the American story and our mutual security.

I am proud to represent a large and vibrant AAPI community in my district, and I have seen that community come together over the last year and joined to help their neighbors and demand justice for all.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this bill today. It is critical and long overdue.

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