Religious Freedom Advocates Celebrate Passage of NO HATE Act

Religious Freedom Advocates Celebrate Senate Passage of Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act

WASHINGTON— With overwhelming bipartisan support, today the U.S. Senate passed the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act as an amendment to the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. The NO HATE Act would promote more accurate hate crime data collection and provide much-need support for victims of hate crimes and their communities.

Maureen O’Leary, federal advocacy associate for Interfaith Alliance, released the below statement celebrating its passage in the Senate and urging its passage in the House:

"We all deserve to feel safe in our communities – no matter who we are, where we live or what we believe. But with frightening regularity, the lives of our friends and neighbors are forever changed by hate-based violence. In particular, we have seen an alarming increase in hate crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we cannot reverse these events, public officials must put in place solutions to ensure the safety of vulnerable groups.

“The Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act will provide much needed support to victims of hate crimes, their communities, and authorities. In the struggle for racial justice and religious freedom, we must do more to protect vulnerable communities in the United States. The Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act will help prevent future tragedies and build trust between targeted groups and law enforcement.

“As an organization committed to combating religious discrimination and bigotry, we recognize that our freedoms are inextricably bound with the freedoms of those who face hate and discrimination. That is why we now urge the House to vote on and pass this critical piece of legislation as a much-needed first step in securing justice, security, and equity for all people.”

If you are interested in speaking further with Interfaith Alliance on this issue, please contact Manisha Sunil at (202) 417-0171 or [email protected].