CEO DATELINE - Minority bar associations denounce surge in ‘hate-motivated violence'
CEO DATELINE - Minority bar associations denounce surge in ‘hate-motivated violence'
- December 2, 2016 |
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Walt Williams
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Six bar associations representing various minority groups urged public official to denounce what the groups said was a tide of ‘hate-motivated violence' following the recent presidential election.
Several news outlets have reported on an apparent increase in violence and intimidation directed at minorities since President-elect Donald Trump's victory in November, although some conservative media outlets have questioned whether such a surge is really taking place. FBI statistics show hate crimes increased by 6 percent in 2015, fueled mainly by attacks on Muslims and transgender people, according to the New York Times. However, there are currently no official statistics available for 2016.
Groups that monitor hate crimes—such as the Southern Poverty Law Center—recorded hundreds of alleged "hate incidents" in the days immediately following the elections. The six bar associations said in a joint statement that lawyers and elected officials across the country need to speak out against the intimidation and violence.
"The recent increase in reported hate crimes is a salient reminder that we must work together to speak out against hate in all forms," the groups said. "As bar associations representing the interests of diverse lawyers around the country, we embrace the solidarity and strength of our robust communities and we are committed to our collective mission to serve as the voice of minority communities in the legal profession."
The groups sent a letter to House and Senate leaders asking them to denounce hateful incidents.
The signatories are the Hispanic National Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, National Association of Women Lawyers, National Bar Association, National LGBT Bar Association and National Native American Bar Association. http://bit.ly/2gV6Jbg
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