AAI Welcomes Bipartisan Stand Against Hate Crime, Calls for Passage of Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2021

CONTACT: Ana Horn | AHorn@aaiusa.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Arab American Institute (AAI) welcomes the introduction of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2021 (the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act), which would promote more accurate hate crime data collection and assist hate crime victims and their communities. The bill represents the continued efforts of a broad coalition of communities determined to improve the federal, state, and local response to hate crime. 

Importantly, the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act is named after Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer, two victims whose murders were prosecuted as hate crimes but not reported in official hate crime statistics. Today, the bicameral, bipartisan bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Fred Upton (R-MI), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Vern Buchanan (R-FL). It will be introduced in the Senate next week by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

The Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act will incentivize state and local authorities to adopt effective hate crime policies and data collection practices, which will help ensure that law enforcement are prepared to respond to hate crime and serve their communities. The Act will also require the Justice Department to study the relationship between these policies and practices and the participation of law enforcement agencies in the national hate crime reporting and data collection system. Furthermore, the Act will also create incentives for state and local governments to provide meaningful assistance to hate crime victims.

In a statement regarding the introduction of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act, AAI Executive Director Maya Berry said the following:

“Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer were killed on the same day, August 12, but one year apart: Khalid, in 2016, on the doorstep of his family's home in Tulsa, Oklahoma after a prolonged campaign of anti-Arab bigotry; and Heather, in 2017, on a crowded street in Charlottesville, Virginia, following a violent white supremacist rally. While their murders were prosecuted as hate crimes, neither was reported in official hate crime statistics.

These omissions demonstrate the need for improved hate crime reporting and data collection. Without accurate data, our nation cannot fully grasp the scope of the challenge posed by hate that morphs into violence. And that's what this legislation does - it enables us to properly define the problem so we can shine a light on it and address it. We appreciate the leadership of Senators Blumenthal and Moran, and Representatives Beyer, Upton, Chu and Buchanan, for introducing this important legislation.

Today, we understand that passage of the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act is as important as ever as our country continues to experience increased hate against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. No family or community should have to be victimized by hate and then find themselves re-victimized when official data glosses over their pain and loss.

For years we have been working with the families of both Khalid and Heather to promote a better understanding of hate crime and the impact it has on communities across the country. Their strength and commitment inspire us all. Nothing we do will bring back their lost loved ones, but we can and will continue to stand for Khalid and Heather for as long as it takes. We owe their memories, their families, and all the victims of hate crime that much. 

Together, we call on Congress to pass the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act.”

Like the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was signed into law 12 years ago, the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act centers the names of two hate crime victims whose stories demonstrate the need for a legislative response. Regarding the introduction and the name of the bill, the family members of Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer made the following statements.

Statement of Rami Jabara, Khalid’s brother:

“With each new story of hate-motivated violence that is splashed across the news, and the knowledge that countless more never make headlines, our family hurts for those who are targeted. We applaud this bipartisan effort to accurately collect data in Khalid and Heather’s memories. The only way we, as a country, will ever know how to begin to address hate in our society is to collect accurate data. The Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act ensures that hate crimes are accurately reported so we can begin the hard work of stopping hate.”

Statement of Susan Bro, Heather’s mother:

“My daughter, Heather Heyer’s name is well known and oft spoken. But her murder and the 35 injured on August 2017 were not initially counted in the 2017 FBI statistics. Khalid Jabara was a high profile case not reported for the 2016 data. If these cases were not counted, how many others were missing from the data? The Jabara Heyer NO HATE Act will improve tracking and responding to hate crime. I call on Congress to support this effort.”

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