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Local Congresswoman and FBI Addressing Threats Against Asian Americans

Harassment on the rise since pandemic began

Published on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 | 11:41 am
 
Judy Chu

The Justice Department says it will continue to protect citizens from racism and threats during the coronavirus pandemic.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena) has been pointing out the rising threats of physical violence against Asian Americans since the start of the national emergency caused by the Coronavirus.

United States Attorney Nick Hanna and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Paul Delacourt on Tuesday stressed that a crucial part of the mission to detect, investigate and prosecute wrongdoing is ensuring all citizens are free from harassment or discrimination because of their ethnicity.

“Federal law enforcement is dedicated to working with our colleagues on the state level and the entire community we serve to prevent acts of bias, especially violent acts or threats,” Hanna said. “Everyone in the United States has felt the effects of the ongoing emergency, and we want to ensure that no one suffers further disruption due to fear, prejudice or xenophobia.”

On May 3 Pasadena police arrested a man who threw a drink at several Asian American people while yelling racial slurs at them.

“While we are made up of many ethnicities and backgrounds in this country, particularly in a multicultural city like Los Angeles, we must always be cognizant that we are all Americans and must respect the fundamental civil rights which unite us,” said Delacourt, who is in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI is concerned about the potential for hate crimes by individuals and groups targeting minority populations whom they wrongly believe are responsible for the spread of the virus. While the FBI routinely reaches out to community organizations in the areas we serve, we want to reach the community directly by asking anyone who has been victimized by a crime inspired by hatred or discrimination to contact their nearest FBI office to make a report.”

There is a significant disparity between hate crimes that actually occur and those reported to law enforcement. The Justice Department says it’s critical to report hate crimes not only to show support for the people directly impacted, but also to send a clear message the community will not tolerate these kinds of crimes. Reporting also enables law enforcement to fully understand the scope of the problem in a community and assign resources toward preventing and addressing crimes of bias and hate.

You may reach the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office 24 hours a day at (310) 477-6565 or you may submit an online tip at https://www.fbi.gov/tips.

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