Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) is marking the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act signed into law by President Joe Biden as a critical time in the fight to keep Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities safe.
“Since being signed into law, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act has equipped the federal government and our communities with additional resources to combat all forms of hate crimes and incidents, including anti-Asian hate,” Hirono said in a May 19 press release. “Passing this law was an important step forward in our fight to end this senseless violence, but our work is far from over.”
In introducing the legislation, Hirono was joined by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), following a rise in hate crimes and violence that targeted AANHPI communities.
Hirono noted how 1 in 2 Asian Americans have reported feeling unsafe in the United States, due to their ethnicity and many feel like they don’t belong, according to the release.
Hirono recently led 30 of her Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution to establish May as AANHPI Heritage Month. The measure unanimously passed the chamber and set the stage for the veteran lawmaker to reintroduce legislation to promote the teaching of AANHPI history in public schools and introduce a resolution designating May 10, 2023, as AANHPI Mental Health Day.
Hirono was also behind legislation in 2022 that established a commission to study the creation of a National Museum of Asian-Pacific American History and Culture, the release stated.
“Eternal vigilance is required from all of us to put an end to the discrimination, prejudice, and racism that our communities still face,” Hirono said. “I will continue doing everything I can to build a diverse future where hate-based violence is eradicated, and every person is safe, accepted, and respected.”