Asian Hate Crime Targets, California 2020

Asian Hate Crime Targets in California Condemned by Feds

In a stark warning to those who would seek to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to commit hate crimes, U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Omer Meisel today denounced discrimination and acts of hate targeting Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and other racial and ethnic minorities in San Diego and Imperial counties.

The warning comes as the nation grapples with the ongoing public health emergency. Brewer and Meisel emphasized that hate crimes against these communities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tenorio appointed as COVID-19 civil rights coordinator to lead investigations into suspected hate crimes and civil rights violations.

‘During this global pandemic, all families are worried about potential illness and death, financial security and their children’s education, but certain minority populations have the added fear that comes from being possible targets of hate,’ Brewer said.

The FBI is also on high alert for potential hate crimes, with Meisel cautioning that ‘we will use all authority granted under federal law to hold those who commit hate crimes accountable.’ This comes as Attorney General William Barr and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband have called upon prosecutors nationwide to watch for hate-motivated acts of violence.

To counter xenophobia and protect racial and ethnic minority community members from bias and hate, Brewer and Meisel urged residents of San Diego and Imperial counties to take the following steps:

• Use language supported by public health officials when referring to the global pandemic and the precipitating virus, using terms like ‘coronavirus disease 2019’ or ‘COVID-19’ as recommended by the World Health Organization.
• Disseminate accurate COVID-19 information within professional and social networks, relying on trusted sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov), the World Health Organization (WHO.int), and the California Department of Public Health (https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx).
• Encourage people you know to report all incidents of bias and hate. There is a significant disparity between hate crimes that actually occur and those reported to law enforcement, and reporting is crucial to show support for the individual(s) directly impacted.

‘If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911,’ Brewer and Meisel urged. ‘If you believe you’ve been the target or victim of a hate crime, sexual harassment or other violation of your civil rights, please contact the FBI San Diego Field Office by calling (858) 320-1800 or submit a report online.’

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