At OAG, we believe that challenging biased attitudes and behaviors in ourselves, others, our institutions, and our systems, can help to interrupt bias before it escalates and stop discrimination, hate, and bias-motivated violence from flourishing. For that reason, OAG’s strategy to address hate focuses on awareness, prevention, and survivor support.

In 2021, I had the great honor as serving as the president of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) and chose countering hate as the theme for my presidential initiative. Through the presidential initiative, The People v. Hate: Standing Up for Humanity, we embarked on a year-long inquiry into hate.

Each quarter built upon different themes of hate—including understanding it, preventing it, dismantling its legacy, and repairing its harm. My presidential term may be over — but my work against hate will continue until my last breath.

Read about my year-long trial against hate on Medium and email PeopleVHate@dc.gov for specific questions about our work to counter hate.

2021 NAAG Presidential Overview:

  • December 6, 2020 – Launch Video: The People v. Hate – Standing Up for Humanity (NAAG, Video)
  • December 6, 2020 – District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine 2021 Presidential Initiative Remarks (NAAG, Video)

Local and National Legal, Legislative, and Advocacy Efforts to Address Hate:

WIN: Responding to the Violent Attack on the U.S. Capitol

  • December 17, 2021 – Announcing Lawsuit Against January 6 Insurrectionists (Text)
  • December 14, 2021 – AG Racine Files Lawsuit to Hold January 6 Insurrectionists Accountable & Stand Up for Harmed District Law Enforcement Officers (Text)
  • March 21, 2021 – Statement for the Record: Hearing on State and Local Responses to Domestic Terrorism: Attack on the US Capitol and Beyond (Statement)
  • January 12, 2021 – AG Racine Leads Bipartisan Coalition of 50 Attorneys General Condemning Violent Attack on U.S. Capitol (Letter)

WIN: Passage of the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act

  • May 18, 2021 – Congress Passes the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (Statement)
  • April 13, 2021 – Bipartisan Coalition of 35 AGs Calling on Congress to Pass the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (Letter)

WIN: Responding to Growing Presence of Hate & Disinformation Online

  • December 6, 2021 - AG Racine Files Brief Supporting Effort to Hold Facebook Accountable For Falsely Claiming to Remove Hate Speech From Its Platform (Text) 
  • January 16, 2021 – Facebook Halts Weapon Accessory Ads (Post)
  • January 15, 2021 – AG Racine Urges Facebook to Halt Weapon Accessory Advertisements Amid Heightened Threats Ahead of Inauguration (Letter)
  • August 5, 2020 – AG Racine Leads 20-State Coalition Urging Facebook to Aggressively Combat the Spread of Hate and Disinformation Online (Letter)

WIN: Passage of Legislation to Enforce the District’s Hate Crimes

  • December 15, 2020 – AG Racine’s Statement on Council’s Passes of Civil Rights Legislation (Statement)
  • March 3, 2020 – OAG’s Testimony on Hate Crime Civil Enforcement Clarification Amendment Act of 2019 (Text)
  • February 19, 2020 – OAG’s Testimony on Attorney General Civil Rights Enforcement Clarification Amendment Act of 2019 (Text)
  • October 23, 2019 – OAG’s Testimony on Hate Crimes in the District of Columbia and the Failure to Prosecute by the United States Attorney’s Office (Text)

Local and National Programs to Address Hate:

ACTION: Understanding the State of Hate in America and its Legacy

ACTION: Supporting Survivors and Communities Impacted by Hate

  • September 30, 2021 – Standing Up for Our Common Humanity: Seeking Justice for Victims and Survivors (NAAG, Video)
  • September 30, 2021 – Law Enforcement Working Together on Solutions to Stop Hate (NAAG, Video)
  • September 30, 2021 – Harnessing the Power of Accountability and Restorative Justice (NAAG, Video)
  • September 30, 2021 – Uniting with Community Partners on Effective Ways to Address Hate (NAAG, Video)
  • July 20, 2021 – Promising Practice in State Efforts to Combat Hate (NAAG, Video)
  • May 18, 2021 - State and Local Responses to Rising Hate (AGA, Video)
  • May 4, 2021 – A Community United: A National Convening Against Anti-AAPI Hate (AGA, Video)
  • April 14, 2021 – Spring Forum: The Rise of Hate and Its Deadly Consequences (NAAG, Video)
  • December 18, 2020 – Unifying in the Aftermath of Hate with DC’s Metropolitan AME Church Pastor, William H. Reverend Lamar IV (Video)

ACTION: Responding to Rising Hate Crimes Against the AAPI Community

  • May 4, 2021 – A Community United: A National Convening Against Anti-AAPI Hate (AGA, Video)
  • March 19, 2021 – Addressing the Rise in Anti-Asian Hate with Attorneys General Herring, Tong, and Racine (Video)
  • September 25, 2020 – Taking a Stand Against Bullying, Harassment, and Hate with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and Hollaback (Video)

ACTION: Empowering District Youth and Youth Educators to Counter Hate

  • April 1, 2021 – Empowering Youth and Youth Educators to Counter Hate (OAG, Video)
  • November 9, 2020 – Artists v. Hate Program Launch (OAG, Video)
  • July 31, 2020 – OAG’s High School Advisory Take 30 Takeover on Combating Hate (Video)

Action: Addressing the Rise of Hate and Disinformation Online

  • November 29, 2021 – Algorithmic Amplification of Online Hate, Extremism and Misinformation (NAAG, Video)
  • April 8, 2021 – Hate and the Internet: Addressing Online Hate and Section 230 (AGA, Video)

Press & Thought Leadership on Hate:

  • January 27, 2022 – Blog: My Year-Long Trial Against Hate (Text)
  • December 15, 2021 - Op-Ed: We sued the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers to prevent another Jan. 6 (The Washington Post)
  • October 1, 2021 – Press Release: Hosting the 2021 NAAG Presidential Summit (Text)
  • September 30, 2021 – Press Release: AG Racine Hosts National Summit on Taking the Politics Out of Hate to Unite Attorneys General to Address Hate Incidents & Seek Solutions (Text)
  • September 17th, 2021 – Press Release: Staying Safe This Weekend & Combating Hate (Text)
  • September 11, 2021 – Op-Ed: “The Threat we Face is Unbridled Hate” 9/11 Anniversary (Link)
  • April 29, 2021 – Article: Antisemitic incidents historically high in DMV despite slight national decline (WUSA9)
  • April 6, 2021 – Podcast: Combatting Incel Violence (NAAG) 
  • March 26, 2021 – Press Release: Confronting Anti-Asian Hate (Text)
  • March 19, 2021 – Article: Three Attorneys General discuss rise of anti-Asian hate and violence (NBC12)
  • December 29, 2020 – Article: America has a hate problem. Facebook and Google are part of it, D.C.’s top attorney says (Politico)
  • December 23, 2020 – Article: The People vs. Hate (The Atlantic)
  • December 16, 2020 – Article: Racine Elected to Lead Attorneys General (Washington Informer)
  • November 27, 2020 – Article: After taking on Trump, D.C. attorney general turns focus to hate and extremism (Washington Post)
  • August 28, 2020 – Op-Ed: Welcome to the New Civil Rights Era (Washington Post)
  • June 1, 2020 – Op-Ed: Leaders Must Step Up to Fight Hate (The Hill)