President Joe Biden called on Congress Friday to "swiftly" pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act days after six Asian American women were killed in Georgia.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y, District 6), would create a position at the Justice Department that would specifically deal with handling and reviewing hate crimes related to the pandemic. A recent study by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at the California State University, San Bernardino, found that although hate crimes dropped overall in the U.S. in 2020, crimes against people of Asian descent jumped nearly 150 percent. If passed, the new law would also expand resources dedicated to stopping these crimes.
"It also means working with law enforcement, training law enforcement to communicate with Asian American communities, and helping those communities be able to report those crimes," Rep. Mark Takano (D- Calif. 41st District) told Cheddar.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Asian American leaders in Atlanta on Friday, three days after eight people were killed at area spas, six of the victims being women of Asian descent. Biden urged Congress to pass the legislation so the federal government can offer aid.
Takano noted that Biden has already signed executive orders directing agencies to turn their attention to the rise of violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. He said it will take strong leadership to guide the country in the right direction, noting the rhetoric Americans have heard from former President Donald Trump.
"This has been a huge change in tone from the last president," he said.
Americans need "leadership that doesn't use words like 'kung flu' or 'China virus' to describe a pathogen that comes from nature and therefore leave a whole population of Asian Americans subject to being stigmatized and blamed for something that they're not responsible for," Takano added.
The congressman said former President Trump's language toward Asians was simply an attempt to "distract from his low, inadequate ways."
Though the California representative said it is often difficult to prove hate crimes in a courtroom, creating systems where individuals can safely and confidently report incidents could help improve chances for more favorable outcomes.
"Regardless of what the assailant said, the murderer said, and how the local sheriff characterized it," said Takano, "It very much looks to those of us in the Asian community and broader, that this was really an attack on people based on their descent, their Asian-ness. But the legal standard is a much different thing."
Liana Guzmán, CEO of FOLX Health, joins Cheddar News to discuss the company launching billboards across the country in response to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Angel Cornelius, Founder & CEO of Maison 276, joins ChedHER to discuss how she created her own beauty solutions right from her kitchen using plant-based, sustainable ingredients and why it's important to celebrate women of all ages and races.
On this episode of ChedHER:PWR WMN Co-Founders discuss how they are building an apparel brand to make women feel confident and powerful; Founder & CEO of Jack & Annie's breaks down the benefits to jackfruit, and how our meat consumption impacts the environment; Founder & CEO of Maison 276 explains how she created her own beauty solutions right from her kitchen using plant-based, sustainable ingredients and why it's important to celebrate women of all ages and races.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 18, 2022, with Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian city of Lviv killing seven, mass shootings in South Carolina and Pittsburgh, Lucky Charms cereal under official investigation by the FDA, and more.
Lisa Whalen, Automotive and Mobility Analyst at Morning Consult, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to break down the famed auto show's emphasis on electric vehicles this year, reflecting a shift toward electrification in the automotive industry.
On this episode of ChedHER, Amira Rasool, CEO and Founder of The Folklore, discusses her $1.7 million pre-seed funding round and why she's being intentional about the investors she's working with; Brittany Merrill-Yeng, co-founder Skrewball Whiskey, reveals the origins of Skrewball Whisky, experiencing a period of rapid growth, and navigating a male-dominated industry; Suz Hernandez, Owner of MamaP, breaks down how her company is combining eco-friendly and sustainable products with a mission to donate to non-profits that help people and the planet.
On this episode of ChedHER: Founder and CEO of IvyWise discusses how the higher education industry has evolved over the past 20 years; CEO and Founder of Stax Payments breaks down how to get more female founders to break $1 million in revenue; Chief Impact Officer & SVP at The Minneapolis Foundation explains how the foundation is driving action for the greatest civic, social, and economic needs.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: President of The Pillow Bar breaks down how everyone can benefit from a pillow customized to their unique way of sleeping; CEO of H2Pro explains how to bring environmentally friendly hydrogen to scale; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Suppressed Science.'
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, Andrea Swift, Chair of NYFA Documentary Department, discusses the documentary filmmaking process and why they remain so important in 2022; Nina Gilden Seavey, Founding Director, The Documentary Center Research at George Washington University, dissects the evolution of documentaries in the streaming age; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Nature Through Her Eyes.'
On this episode of ChedHER: Founder and CEO at Allara Health discusses how she's creating a platform for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS; General Manager of the Run/Train Business Unit at Puma breaks down how Puma is approaching a hybrid work model, and ways to empower women in the workplace; Founder and CEO of Mi Golondrina explains how she's empowering over 600 artisans from Mexico.
