WASHINGTON, DC — The following is a statement from Madihha Ahussain, Muslim Advocates’ special counsel for anti-Muslim bigotry on today’s introduction of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2019 introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal and its House companion bill introduced by Representatives Don Beyer and Pete Olson:

“Too many people, including American Muslims, continue to fall victim to unspeakable acts of hate-fueled violence. The introductions of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act is a necessary step towards stopping this violence and offering hate crime victims and their families a path towards justice that many shockingly lack.

We also commend Rep. Don Beyer for his important work on this issue, which dates back several years, and for introducing his bipartisan House companion bill with Rep. Pete Olson.

As we noted following the release of the FBI’s most recent hate crime statistics, anti-Muslim hate crimes have occurred in multiple jurisdictions that either fail to report hate crimes or do not participate in reporting at all. This is a problem facing many communities, and one that these commonsense bills are designed to address.

We commend Senator Blumenthal and Representatives Beyer and Olson for taking the threat of hate crimes seriously—something far too few elected officials have done, particularly in the states that have failed to pass a hate crime law—and call on all members of Congress to join them in support of these necessary bills.

Additionally, we thank the Arab American Institute for their leadership on this legislation.”

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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