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(Washington, D.C.) – In an overwhelming bipartisan vote on Thursday, the Senate passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act which included the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act as an amendment. The following is a statement from Damon Hewitt, acting president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:

“In a bipartisan fashion, the Senate has forcefully responded to the violence that our country’s Asian communities have faced during the pandemic. The support across party lines reflects a growing consensus that hate in all its forms, especially targeted against communities that have been historically marginalized, is a persistent threat to our democratic values.

“Today’s legislation will do much to address the alarming rise in hate crimes. We applaud the Senate for passing legislation that will strengthen our country’s response to hate crimes by improving the reporting, data and support for those targeted for hate.

“For our society to recognize the humanity in us all we must work together to root out the white supremacy and bigotry that has plagued our country for generations. As our national consciousness seems to re-awaken to the violence and hatred that far too often plague our communities, the urgency of now could not be fiercer.”