We’ve taken a multifaceted approach to advocacy on this policy issue.
Legislative Action
Last month, we worked with Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) to draft, introduce, and pass a bipartisan Senate Resolution 118 addressing religiously motivated hate crimes whose bipartisan co-sponsors included and Senators Feinstein (D-CA), Collins (R-ME), Rubio (D-FL), and Duckworth (D-IL). We are working currently on a House version of the resolution (H.Res.257) with Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10).
Executive Policy
Advocating that the Department of Justice set up an interagency task force to respond to the increase in hate crimes. This task force should include federal and local government agencies and community groups working on this issues to address the problems with reporting, data, and coordination.
Community Engagement
We are leading an initiative with support from the DOJ Community Relations Service to dispel hate and fear between diverse segments of local communities by serving as a conduit to facilitate dialogues between different sectors of the community which include faith-based organizations, local government, local law enforcement, local schools, other organizations such as the YMCA and neighborhood groups.
While there is momentum within Congress to address this issue, nevertheless, we are disappointed in the lack of direct inclusion of American Muslim voices on the witness panel. We hope that future hearings, meetings, and summits to address this issue include Muslims from planning to implementation. |