Rep. Cleaver Votes For Bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, Releases Statement Calling On Communities to Stop Asian Hate

Press Release

Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of S. 937, the Senate-passed COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which was cosponsored by Congressman Cleaver and passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support by a vote of 364-62. In an effort to address the dramatic rise in violence and hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community since the beginning of the pandemic, the bill would facilitate expedited reviews of COVID-19 hate crimes, expand public reporting and awareness efforts, and direct federal agencies to work with community-based organizations to raise awareness of and combat hate crimes and violence against the AAPI community.

Following passage of the legislation, Congressman Cleaver released the below statement.

"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAPI community has faced a dramatic rise in heinous and senseless attacks based on nothing but hate and discrimination. All around Missouri and across the country, our AAPI family, friends, and neighbors have been living in fear of being targeted with racial slurs and deadly violence for simply being who they are.

"That is completely unacceptable in the United States of America in 2021 and why Congress has taken today's bipartisan action to stand with our AAPI communities and combat the startling increase in anti-Asian hate crimes. I was proud to support this life-saving and desperately needed legislation to ensure everyone in our community is treated with dignity and respect--just as I was proud to join multiple Stop Asian Hate rallies in Kansas City over the past year.

"While we have seen a deeply troubling rise in hate and division in recent years, I still believe in the goodness of the American people. I believe each of us can set an example of civility and decency for others to follow--and I challenge every Missourian to be that example in your community.

"Combatting the epidemic of hatred coursing through our nation is a critical step to ensuring a safer future for all of our children and grandchildren. Today, we took an important step in the right direction by passing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act."

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