Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Dick Durbin, will hold a hearing on the alarming rise in hate crimes across the US. Read more..
A Threat to Justice Everywhere:
Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America
September 17, 2024
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chaired by Senator Dick Durbin, will hold a hearing titled: A Threat to Justice Everywhere: Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America. This hearing will focus on the alarming rise in hate crimes across the United States, exploring potential legislative solutions and recommendations to combat this growing threat.
Witnesses Include:
Maya Berry
Executive Director, Arab American Institute;
Co-Chair, Hate Crimes Task Force, The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights
Kenneth S. Stern
Director, Bard Center for the Study of Hate
Mark Goldfeder
Director, National Jewish Advocacy Center
For more information about the hearing, click here.
Earlier this week, MPAC shared a statement for the official record along with policy recommendations for members of the Committee that includes:
Mandate Reporting of Hate Crimes:
Attempts to improve hate crime reporting belie the underlying issue; reporting is not mandatory. Without a statutory requirement, that problem will persist.
Hate Crime tracking began with the 1990 Hate Crime Statistics Act, which was approved by unanimous consent by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and required the Attorney General to collect hate crimes data but did not require law enforcement to report it.
We urge members of this Committee to introduce legislation that would make reporting a requirement and work to ensure it is signed into law this Congress.
Change the Way State and Local Enforcement are Incentivized to Report:
Instead of providing additional resources for meeting metrics related to reporting, baseline funding must be contingent on reporting. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must make funding contingent on reporting metrics and criteria.
Expanding Community Outreach
Local law enforcement must create stronger programs to foster meaningful relationships between houses of worship to ensure best practices are shared. Congress must earmark funding for local Law Enforcement agencies through the Department of Justice (DOJ) to focus on community outreach and engagement to better create awareness around hate crimes reporting.
Training Law Enforcement on Bias-Motivated Crimes:
Law enforcement officers often lack the training to properly identify and report hate crimes, which can result in incidents being misclassified as simple assaults or other crimes. Congress must provide funding to develop comprehensive training programs on how to identify, investigate, and report hate crimes to be administered to state, local, and federal law enforcement. This training should include culturally competent practices that respect the dignity of diverse communities and encourage victims to come forward.
Creating a Federal Hate Crime:
A centralized federal hate crime data dashboard must be developed and made accessible to the public. This tool would allow for real-time tracking of hate crimes by location, type of offense, and target community, providing transparency and enabling both the public and policymakers to assess the scope of the problem. It could also facilitate data sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Holding Social Media Companies Accountable/Addressing Domestic Terrorism Online:
There must be mechanisms put in place to hold social media platforms accountable for failing to prevent the spread of hate speech that incites real-world violence. A legal framework must be created to ensure that platforms that knowingly allow the spread of domestic terrorism content. The rise in hate crimes is closely linked to the spread of domestic terrorist ideologies particularly online, often facilitated through private chat rooms and encrypted messaging platforms. Congress must support initiatives that engage social media through public awareness campaigns. These efforts should involve collaboration with civil society organizations, including American Muslim groups.
It is the responsibility and authority of our elected officials to protect and stand for the people they represent. As a nation we must decide whether we will let fear and intolerance shape our society or if we will uphold the American principles of equality and justice. Amid the growing threat of domestic terrorism fueled by white supremacist ideology, MPAC has been at the forefront urging policymakers to prioritize and address this threat. The Muslim Public Affairs Council will continue to advocate for policy reforms to combat hate crimes against American Muslims and all marginalized communities.
In service,
Haris Tarin
Vice President, Policy and Programming
Muslim Public Affairs Council
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