Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRISTOPHER P. DEPHILLIPS
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Timberlake
SYNOPSIS
Condemns hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution condemning hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Whereas, New Jersey has nearly one million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders residing in the State, approximately 10 percent of the State population; and
Whereas, Twenty three million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for seven percent of the population of the United States; and
Whereas, There are approximately two million Asian American owned businesses in the United States that generate over $700 billion in annual revenue and employ nearly 4.5 million workers; and
Whereas, Across the United States, over two million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in fields such as health care, law enforcement, first responders, transportation, and other service industries; and
Whereas, Following the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and
Whereas, Between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021, there were 3,795 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate crimes reported from the 50 States and the District of Colombia; and
Whereas, During that timeframe, race was cited as the primary reason for discrimination, making up over 90 percent of the incidents; and
Whereas, During that same timeframe, Asian American and Pacific Islander youths under 20 years old made up approximately 13 percent of the victims, and the elderly over 60 years old made up approximately seven percent of the victims; and
Whereas, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made significant contributions to America’s economy and culture; and
Whereas, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are a significant and important community in New Jersey; and
Whereas, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders should not live in fear of attack and discrimination, and verbal and physical attacks against these communities are intolerable and should be condemned by all persons of this State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House condemns and
denounces all anti–Asian and Pacific Islander sentiment, and condemns and
denounces all manifestations or expressions of racism or ethnic intolerance
against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor, the Attorney General, the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
New Jersey has nearly one million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders residing in the State, approximately 10 percent of the State population. Twenty three million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for seven percent of the population of the United States. Across the United States, over two million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in fields such as health care, law enforcement, first responders, transportation, and other service industries.
Following the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021, there were 3,795 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate crimes reported from the 50 States and the District of Colombia. During that timeframe, race was cited as the primary reason for discrimination, making up over 90 percent of the incidents. In addition, Asian American and Pacific Islander youths under 20 years old made up approximately 13 percent of the victims, and the elderly over 60 years old made up approximately seven percent of the victims.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made significant contributions to America’s economy and culture, and they are a significant and important community in New Jersey. They should not live in fear of attack and discrimination, and verbal and physical attacks against these communities are intolerable and should be condemned by all persons of this State.