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Contact: Sameera Hafiz
301.270.1855
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
October 28, 2014 
Five Years Since the Passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act
This statement is issued by the following members of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the passage of the Matthew Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA).  South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) and the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO) honor this historic achievement in the struggle to end hate violence in our country.  The HCPA significantly expanded the definition of hate crimes and improved federal law enforcement response to hate crimes.

 

Unfortunately, while the HCPA was passed five years ago, hate violence against South Asian communities remains unacceptably high.  Under Suspicion, Under Attack, a recent report released by SAALT last month, found that South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Arab, and Middle Eastern communities over the past three years continue to experience high levels of hate violence on a sustained basis nationwide. 

 

The HCPA marks a critical step toward addressing hate violence, but much more must be done.  SAALT and the NCSO call on President Obama to create a National Task Force to Prevent Hate Violence that addresses the increasing hostility directed at our communities.  Creating such a Task Force would signal the President's commitment to prioritizing this issue on our national agenda, create infrastructure to equip local communities to anticipate and respond to hate violence when incidents occur, and foster relationships between law enforcement and our communities.

 

As South Asian American communities continue to grow, we are confronted by increasing hostility and violence.  To uphold our country's important ideals of equality and fairness, we must fight to end hate violence and stand together to demand that President Obama create the National Task Force to Prevent Hate Violence.


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The National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO) is a network of community-based organizations that believe in common principles related to social change, and that provide services to work with, convene, organize, and advocate for South Asians in the United States.  South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)coordinates the NCSO.
 
 
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit organization that elevates the voices and perspectives of South Asian individuals and organizations to build a more just and inclusive society in the United States. SAALT is the coordinating entity of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO) , a network of 49 organizations that serve, organize, and advocate on behalf of the South Asian community across the country.