Introduction
Hate crime refers to a criminal offense involving individuals or groups of offenders discriminating others based on their religion, race, sexual orientation, disability, gender, or ethnicity. Hate crime is prejudiced expressions which fail to involve threats, damage to property, or violence. Despite possessing this nature, the crime exposes the offenders to hefty penalties because they leave the victims vulnerable and victimized (Shattuck & Risse, 2021). Therefore, the discriminatorily motivated offense committed and targeted to an individual victimizes them and their immediate community and family; belonging is made vulnerable. Asian hate crime is a contemporary issue affecting many people in the United States, thus, it is important for legislatures and other relevant stakeholders to formulate strategies of addressing the problem to completely eradicate it.
Problem Analysis
The United States (U.S.) has witnessed a series of discriminatory motivated behavior linked to hate crime. In the past, hate crimes were not considered to be associated with discriminatory acts. The U.S. government was involved in perpetrating these vices directly through state violence on ethnic and racial minorities. Some historical U.S. hate crimes included slavery, the genocide of Native Americans, anti-Chinese violence, Ku Klux Klan criminal conduct, and lynching (Shattuck & Risse, 2021). The denial of victims’ legal redress by the government fueled hate crimes. There was a registered increase of hate crime against the Asian during the 9/11 bombing attack (Weiss, 2021). According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics, these hate crimes registered an increase of 59.6% in 2018 due to ethnicity, race, and ancestral discrimination (Shattuck & Risse, 2021). This posed a more significant threat to the Asian people living in the U.S as they became more vulnerable to attacks.
Hate crimes are considered serious forms of prejudice arising within political and social change leading to the devaluing groups being viewed as unfamiliar. New York City comprises 13.95% of Asians, who comprise students, immigrants, and tourists (Weiss, 2021). The occurrence of COVID-19 has witnessed an increase in hate crimes. The former U.S President Donald Trump referred to the virus as the ‘Chinese virus,’ which led to 1,100 reported incidents of hate crimes among the Asian persons living in the country (Man, 2020). The groups made vulnerable by the comment included Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, and South Asian communities. They were exposed to recurrent cycles of violence and harassment (Weiss, 2021). The recurrent problem of hate crimes needs to be considered since it not only discriminates against the victims but also tends to make them vulnerable to life-threatening attacks.
The motivation of hate crimes is associated with violent acts that expose victims to harm physically or mentally. The motivations are color, race, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and national origin (Shattuck & Risse, 2021). It is worth noting that groups of individuals commit hate crimes compared to other forms of criminal activities. Similarly, according to the National Victimization Survey statistics, the targeted victims lay in categories such as 15% were under 17 years; 17% were aged 18 to 29; and 43% surpassed 30 years of age (Shattuck & Risse, 2021). The upsurge in the number of hate crimes against Asians across the U.S during this COVID-19 pandemic period registered 2,100 incidents within 3-month, that is, between March and June of 2020 (Zhang et al., 2021). This surge has made the issue to be a matter of concern requiring appropriate actions to mitigate and eradicate the recurrent problem. Hate crimes eradication will further remove the elements of discrimination against those who deem to possess different attributes.
Solutions Criteria
There arises the need to avail a resounding resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives to address the issue of hate crime in the country. Various legislatures have tried to seek the attention of the President of the U.S. towards addressing the issue. Anti-Asian hate crimes, according to the national security council, seemed to undermine the countries leadership and values on an international scope (Weiss, 2021). Therefore, the formulation of laws ensuring the safety of the Asian people living in the U.S. would guarantee them security against hate crimes.
Solution Brainstorming
A resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives would garner support from other interested parties. For instance, Meng’s answer received support from 50 professional and scientific bodies, which felt the plight of the Asian people (Weiss, 2021). Similarly, the formation of non-governmental organizations such as the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) provides an opportunity for the victims of hate crimes to make formal reports (Shattuck & Risse, 2021). The ability and platforms for making formal complaints make the victim’s comfort and confidence restored, pending the follow-up to his or her case.
Implementation
The resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives needs to condemn all forms of hate crimes against Asians and call out the federal law enforcers to partner with local and state officials investigating these instances. Representative Grace Meng has undertaken a similar move on March 25, 2020 (Weiss, 2021). In turn, the laxity exhibited by the U.S government towards redressing hate crimes issues against Asians will be an issue of the past (Man, 2020). These moves by the U.S House of Represent seek to establish a lasting solution to hate discriminating against Asians.
Furthermore, the support of activism groups would be essential in championing for the rights of the Asian people. These groups, such as AAPI, are critical for evaluating and determining whether a reported case is considered a hate crime or not. After evaluation, the categorized instances as hate crimes are forwarded for legal redress (Shattuck & Risse, 2021). The activist groups would in the frontline championing for the government to order when it has resorted to neglecting and perpetrating life-threatening violence against Asian persons (Man, 2020). Speaking up by these groups will aim at supporting reforms in the justice system, which the U.S government has neglected. Adherence to these criteria will avail a lasting solution by sealing loopholes in the legal justice system.
Conclusion
Hate crimes committed on Asians living in the U.S. have witnessed an upsurge in the past few months. This increase has been associated with the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges that people in the country have experienced as a result of it. Racial groups and incidents in the past are mainly responsible for the continuous cycles of Asian hate crimes. The recurrent nature of the crime, as well as its effects, calls for the need to adopt a working intervention. The measures included the presentation of resolutions to the U.S House of Representatives and the formation of a non-governmental organization. The application of these measures is essential to protect Asians and protect the interest of the U.S citizens. It is important to recall that the U.S. is a highly diversified country which needs to eradicate vices that compromise the unity of the people.
References
Man, S. (2020). Anti-Asian violence and US imperialism.Race & Class, 62(2), 24-33.
Shattuck, J., & Risse, M. (2021). Reimagining rights & Responsibilities in the United States: Freedom of speech and media.SSRN Electronic Journal.
Weiss, P. (2021). A Rising Tide of Hate and Violence against Asian Americans in New York During COVID-19: Impact, Causes, Solutions [Ebook]. Asian American Bar Association of New York.
Zhang, Y., Zhang, L., & Benton, F. (2021). Hate crimes against Asian Americans.American Journal of Criminal Justice.