CAPAC Chair Applauds Release of 2023 USCCR Report on Anti-Asian Racism
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) released their 2023 statutory enforcement report, The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States.
The report examines the federal government’s role in documenting, prosecuting, and preventing hate crimes against persons of Asian descent during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights national trends in data indicating the rise of hate incidents and hate crimes against Asian Americans. Key findings in the report show that more comprehensive and national data is necessary to fully understand the extent of the harm that is being felt by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. In addition, the report finds that federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and victim services must identify deficiencies in and bolster their Limited English Proficient (LEP) programs to ensure all community members are reached.
In authoring this report, the Commission held a public briefing on the topic of the Federal response to anti-Asian racism, and heard from experts in our communities on this issue. The Commission also solicited written comment for their consideration, which Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) submitted to outline the priorities of the Caucus in addressing anti-Asian racism.
Chair Chu issued the following statement on the report:
“This report is a sobering reminder of why concrete actions remain necessary to ensure the safety of every member of our communities. While there have been comprehensive efforts to address the alarming increase in anti-Asian hate crimes since the coronavirus pandemic began, like the enactment of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, the findings in this report show that more must be done to ensure this law is fully implemented and the civil rights of AANHPIs are fully protected. I was proud to submit comments for consideration in the Commission’s work on this topic, and I thank the Commission for issuing this incredibly important and timely report. I know that the Commission’s attention to this critical issue and their findings will aid our Caucus in our work to advocate for the critical resources that AANHPIs need, so that everyone who calls America home feels safe and can fully access our justice system.”