DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the May 20, 2021 regular meeting.
WHEREAS, According to recent data from the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are more than 72 hate groups currently operating in California. In 2018, hate crimes involving bias against someone who is Jewish increased by 21.2 percent and against someone who is Latino by 18.3 percent. Also in that year, hate crimes with an anti-black or African American bias accounted for 25.9 percent and with a sexual orientation bias accounted for 22.3 percent of hate crimes reported in 2018; and
WHEREAS, Anti-Asian rhetoric surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic spike in verbal and physical assaults against Asian Americans in the past year. According to Stop AAPI Hate, over 2,800 anti-Asian hate incidents have occurred nationwide since February 2020 with over 1,200 of those occurring in California; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 557 would require the California Department of Justice to create and maintain an accessible toll-free hotline number and an online form so people can report hate crimes and hate incidents more easily and in a way that overcomes the possible hesitancy victims and witnesses may feel if they distrust or fear local law enforcement officials, and would help victims receive referrals to local agencies, resources, and support services;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County supports the passage of Assembly Bill 557 (Muratsuchi and Chiu), as amended on March 25, 2021, and urges the Democratic supermajority in the California State Legislature to pass the legislation and the Democratic Governor to sign the bill into law;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County shall communicate this resolution to Contra Costa County Democrats, the California Democratic Party, members of the State Senate and State Assembly representing any part of Contra Costa County, members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, and the Governor of the State of California.
Submitted by: Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 2