WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) Co-Chairs Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and Nevada AG Aaron Ford released the following statement regarding President Joe Biden signing Senator Mazie Hirono’s and Congresswoman Grace Meng’s COVID-19 Hate Crimes bill into law. The legislation includes a provision DAGA Executive Committee member District of Columbia AG Karl Racine pushed for that helps state and local law enforcement track and prevent hate crimes.

Statement from Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and Nevada AG Aaron Ford, Co-Chairs of the Democratic Attorneys General Association

“For too long, violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community has been invisible. The COVID-19 crisis accelerated racial-targeting and violence towards the AAPI community, and we hope that the signing of the AAPI Hate Crime bill today will reverse the trend and help hold those propagating these attacks accountable.”

“No one should live in fear of being targeted for who they are, what they look like, or where they are from. That is why Democratic Attorneys General have been at the forefront in taking substantive actions to protect members of the AAPI community and create lasting systemic change.”

“We look forward to working with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and other leaders to utilize these new resources now available to better defend our communities and address these unconscionable attacks.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

• All 25 Democratic AGs have spoken out about the rise of hate crimes towards the AAPI community.
• DAGA Executive Committee member District of Columbia AG Karl Racine, in his capacity as President of the National Association of Attorneys General, is focusing his presidential initiative on addressing the rise of hate crimes.
• DAGA Executive Committee member Connecticut AG William Tong, the first Chinese-American elected to the office of state Attorney General, discussed the rise of hate crimes towards the AAPI community, the Vincent Chin case and its impact on the AAPI community, and the importance of his new legislation with NowThisNews here.
• Earlier this month, District of Columbia AG Karl Racine and Connecticut AG William Tong hosted a national convening on combating anti-AAPI hate. DAGA Co-Chair Nevada AG Aaron Ford, Second Gentlemen Douglas Emhoff and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona participated in the convening.