AG Lynch Addresses The Post-Election Hate Crime Epidemic, in Video Statement

X Facebook Email Flipboard Pinterest Print Reddit

Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:32 pm

Donald Trump already expressed his contempt for the majority of Americans during his campaign, so no one should be surprised by his decision to appoint a white supremacist as his closest and most senior political advisor. Meanwhile, hate crimes are at epidemic proportions. U.S. Attorney-General Loretta Lynch addressed this in a video message.

According to the SPLC, there were 437 reported hate crimes in 5 days. This is an epidemic.

The inclusive America that Hillary Clinton talked about is on life support. Still, there are people who are fighting the hate in ways that seem small as Trump builds his hate regime. Still, there are signs of life in the America that most of us know and recognize is far greater than the dystopia that Trump is building with help from his children.

Attorney-General Loretta Lynch made a video statement to address the hate crimes epidemic that was unleashed by Donald Trump – and his voters.

Watch here:

Attorney-General Lynch said:

Earlier this week, the FBI released its statistics on hate crimes committed in 2015. These numbers should be deeply sobering for all Americans. Among other alarming trends, the report showed a 67 percent increase in hate crimes committed against Muslim Americans. It also showed increases in the number of hate crimes committed against Jewish people, African Americans, and LGBT individuals. Overall, the number of reported hate crimes increased six percent – a number that does not account for the many hate crimes that may go unreported out of shame or fear.

Beyond these 2015 statistics, I know that many Americans are concerned by a spate of recent news reports about alleged hate crimes and harassment. Some of these incidents have happened in schools. Others have targeted houses of worship. And some have singled out individuals for attacks and intimidation. The FBI is assessing, in conjunction with federal prosecutors, whether particular incidents constitute violations of federal law. We need you to continue to report these incidents to local law enforcement, as well as the Justice Department so that our career investigators and prosecutors can take action to defend your rights. You can find information about federal hate crimes laws – and other civil rights laws that the department enforces, including protections for students in schools – on our Civil Rights Division’s website. Our site also contains resources for communities working to prevent and respond to hate crimes, as well.

Last month marked the seventh anniversary of one of those laws: the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This landmark statute was named for two men who were killed for the most un-American of reasons – because they were different from their attackers – Matthew Shepard in his sexual orientation, and James Byrd Jr. in his race. The law that bears their names significantly expanded our ability to combat hate crimes by adding new federal protections against crimes based on one’s gender identity, sexual orientation, gender, or disability status – protections that we have worked tirelessly to uphold in the last seven years.

But despite the tremendous progress we have made, we cannot lose sight of how much remains to be done. Nearly two decades after Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. were brutally murdered simply for being who they were, we still have a long way to go to ensure that every American can live free from the fear of violence or harassment based what they look like, how they worship, or whom they love.

That work is not just about enforcing the law. It’s about staying true to our highest ideals and most cherished principles. It’s about making sure that all Americans receive the protection of the law. And it’s about giving real meaning to our shared belief that all people are created equal.

Put simply, this work is the right – and just – thing to do. And I want the American people to know that as long as that work is necessary, the Department of Justice will continue to carry it forward. We will continue to enforce our nation’s hate crimes laws to the fullest extent possible. We will continue to uphold our conviction that all men and women deserve to lead lives of safety and dignity. And we will continue to champion the values of diversity and inclusion that have always been the bedrock of our nation’s progress, and that point the way to a brighter future. Thank you.

Maura Healy, Attorney-General of Massachusetts, and her staff got to work launching a hotline for victims of hate crimes.

Like Attorney-General Lunch, Healy recognized the importance of taking action to assure people there are still people in government who will ” will protect people’s rights, will fight discrimination and will protect people’s safety.” Healy told Elle Magazine that she hopes other states will follow her lead.

Trump supporters continue to whine about being called racists – oblivious to the existence of other people who have real problems – like the surge of hate crimes.

Meanwhile, there are some adults in America working to fix the mess that people who voted for Trump enabled him to create. Unlike Trump voters, they don’t have the luxury of time to whine – because people are being abused, threatened and physically assaulted by the same people who are hurt and angry over being held to account for their decision to vote Trump.

Trump voters built this epidemic of hate crimes, regardless of whether they believe they are “good people” or insist this isn’t what they voted for. Either they voted for the totality of Trump’s policies or they didn’t care enough about the consequences of your vote. Either way, they built this epidemic of hate crimes and they will own it.