We have a hate problem in this country. And sadly, we’re trending in the wrong direction. 2019 was the deadliest year on record for hate crimes – and we still haven’t seen the national data from last year. We learn about these crimes on the news, from our communities, and experiences in our own lives. No one should have to fear being the victim of a hate crime. No one should have to worry that they will be targeted because of the way they look, who they love, or where they worship.
This year, as the president of the National Association of Attorneys General, I launched an initiative called the People v. Hate. The initiative aims to raise awareness of hate and bias, prevent hate from taking root in our communities, support residents who have experienced hate, and develop and share best practices on improving hate crime data.
Combating hate isn’t a partisan issue – we must work together as a country and in our communities to root it out. That starts by having open conversations.
On April 14, I’m hosting a webinar centered on the impact of hate. The event will bring together victims of hate crimes, survivors, and their families. They will share their personal stories of devastating loss, resilience, and advocacy in the wake of deadly attacks and their recommendations for changes to prevent hate and support those who have experienced its horrific consequences.
Among the several family members and survivors joining the discussion will include Susan Bro, the mother of Heather Heyer, who was killed in the Charlottesville attack in 2017, and Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers who survived the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. Their stories are important. No one should have to experience what they and their loved ones have gone through. And through conversations like this one and needed action, we can work to make sure no one else has to.
Click here to register for this webinar on The Rise of Hate and its Deadly Consequences. I hope you join.
Thank you.
Karl A. Racine
Attorney General
Sign Up for the COVID-19 Vaccine
All adults are eligible for the vaccine in the District effective April 12, 2021. You can pre-register and will receive an alert when an appointment is ready for you. For details visit vaccinate.dc.gov or call 1-855-363-0333.
You can sign up 24/7 through the website and during the day 7 days a week by phone.
Congratulating Artist v. Hate Contest Winners
Artists v. Hate is a youth art competition that gives young people in the District the chance to express themselves and their feelings toward current events through art. This competition encouraged the District’s youth to resist and denounce hate, promote social justice, and to inspire change—all through art.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a piece! And congratulations to the winners Nicole Vasquez and Donnay Brown! Click here to check out their art.
Protecting Our Children
April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, a chance to reflect on a difficult issue that is too often hidden in the shadows, particularly during the pandemic.
Children do best when they are in strong families, and strong families can help prevent child abuse and neglect. But during the pandemic all of these structures have suffered. Families aren’t as strong, and that suggests there’s a rise in rates of child abuse and neglect.
We must redouble our efforts to combat child abuse. My office is committed to doing everything we can to protect our communities, and keeping kids safe is at the top of the list.
To learn more, my office held a Take 30 discussion this week on preventing child abuse during the pandemic, which you can watch online.
If you have witnessed child abuse, please contact the District of Columbia's Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) at (202) 671-SAFE or (202) 671-7233.
Understanding Workplace Safety During Covid-19
The Council recently passed legislation to ensure workers in the District have the protections and support to return safely to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes requiring employers to adopt and implement workplace safety policies that follow the mayor’s public health emergency orders related to COVID-19. And it prohibits retaliation against employees for taking actions related to complying with or complaining about an employer's actions related to applicable COVID-19 health and safety laws and practices. To help District residents understand this new law, we created a FAQ with details about how it impacts workplace safety during the pandemic.
Urging DOJ to Reverse Trump Administration Support of Fossil Fuel Companies
Last week, AG Racine urged U.S Attorney Merrick Garland to reverse the U.S. Department of Justice’s positions taken under the previous administration filed in cases on climate change deception. Last year, our office sued Exxon Mobile, BP, Chevron, and Shell to stop these companies’ disinformation campaigns on climate change. The Trump Administration filed amicus briefs in an attempt to undermine our work to hold fossil fuel companies accountable. Read more here.
Holding Predatory Lender Accountable
This week I filed a lawsuit against an online predatory lender for deceptively marketing illegal high-interest loans to District consumers. Our suit alleges the lender misrepresented its high interest loans as fast and easy cash and falsely claimed that its loans would help struggling consumers build credit. Instead, the lender charged over 4,000 District residents exorbitant interest rates of up to 198%—more than eight times the District’s 24% rate cap. Learn more here.