[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H626-H627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DENOUNCING HATE CRIMES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from

[[Page H627]]

New York (Ms. Velazquez) for 5 minutes.
  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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