The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Issues Statement Condemning Recent Hate Incidents and Calling for Federal Action

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, by majority vote, issued a statement regarding reports of a significant number of hate incidents across the country, calling on state and federal officials to respond immediately and effectively to end violence based on religion, national origin, race or other identity status. The statement can be viewed at:

http://www.usccr.gov/press/2017/03-20-Hate-Incidents-Statement.pdf

The Commission has frequently condemned hate incidents, most recently in December 2016. As an independent, federal civil rights agency, the Commission's role is to identify attempts to marginalize and intimidate members of protected groups based on their status, and to prevent further violence. These attacks cause fear, run counter to American values, and diminish all Americans and our way of life.

The dire nature of hate incident reports compelled the Commission to speak again. Law enforcement must remain vigilant in investigating and prosecuting such crimes. Noting a critical need to collect and report data, the Commission called for sufficient funding for the Department of Justice to effectively carry out such efforts.

The Commission joined scores of prominent civil rights organizations, and 100 members of the U.S. Senate, in exhorting the executive branch to use all available resources to respond quickly and forcefully to hate-based incidents.

Chair Catherine E. Lhamon expressed her concern: "No community should have to fear attacks based on how they look, where they are from, whom they love, or what they believe. We must all come together to fight against such hate and intolerance, which has no place in our society."

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with advising the President and Congress on civil rights matters and issuing an annual federal civil rights enforcement report. For information about the Commission, please visit http://www.usccr.gov and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/usccrgov

Contact: Brian Walch 
publicaffairs@usccr.gov 
202-376-8371

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SOURCE U.S. Commission on Civil Rights