Sen. Schumer to introduce COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Monday dared his colleagues in the Senate to vote against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. "If they do, shame on them," Schumer said during a press conference in New York City. (April 19)

Video Transcript

CHUCK SCHUMER: We are here because there has been a terrible and deeply troubling uptick in anti-Asian hate crimes here in New York and across America. And we are saying no more. We are saying very simply to America, to New York, to the world, stop Asian hate.

This evening at 5:00 o'clock, I will move to bring to the floor of the Senate the anti-Asian Hate Legislation, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. We have added two amendments that will strengthen the bill, that are bipartisan. This should not be a partisan issue, and we will vote on the bill on Wednesday.

And I dare any senator to vote against this legislation. If they do, shame on them. Shame on them. Because this is what America is all about.

GRACE MENG: We stand together because our community is scared. We are terrified. People are telling their grandparents and their parents not to go outside. People are telling their children not to go play outside, even though the weather is nice. And it's been over a year of these sorts of feelings. And in recent weeks, have only increased with our attacks on the elderly and the murders in Atlanta, Georgia.

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