Senator Hirono Statement on Third Anniversary of COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement on the third anniversary of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act being signed into law by President Biden. The legislation, introduced by Senator Hirono and Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), addresses the rise in hate-based violence against the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community.

“As anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents surged during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to equip our communities with the tools they need to prevent hate crimes and incidents and protect one another,” said Senator Hirono. “In the three years since our bill was signed into law, we’ve seen the federal government take important steps to help track, understand, and combat hate-based crimes. Passing this law was an important step in our fight to end hate-based violence, but our work is far from over. With hate and intolerance against AANHPI and other marginalized communities still all too prevalent in our country, I will continue working to combat hate and bigotry in all forms.”

Senator Hirono has long advocated on behalf of AANHPI communities in Hawaii, the U.S., and Pacific Island nations and territories. Last week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Senator Hirono to mark May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Earlier this month, Senator Hirono introduced a resolution marking May 10, 2024 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health Day. In September 2023, Senator Hirono introduced a resolution designating the week of September 25 through October 1, 2023 as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week.

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