Haaland raises questions on hate crimes

WASHINGTON – During a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing today, a witness testified that President Trump and his Administration’s rhetoric emboldens crimes against immigrant communities in response to Congresswoman Deb Haaland’s (NM-01) question.
Haaland focused her questions on hate crimes against immigrant communities in light of a 400 percent spike in reported hate crimes in Albuquerque. During the hearing, Haaland also referenced the tragic August 2019 events in which a gunman entered a Walmart in El Paso and killed 22 people while wounding another 27. Minutes before the rampage, the shooter had posted an anti-immigrant manifesto.
Haaland then questioned the witnesses about causes to a spike in hate crimes against the immigrant community. “Children have lost their parents. Parents have lost their children. And yet, cannot figure out how to stop reliving this nightmare. No one should have to live it. Especially not our immigrant communities – The communities that make America great by bringing their cultures here … Mr. Greenblatt, in your view, what might be driving the increase in anti-immigrant or anti-Hispanic sentiment?”
Mr. Jonathan Greenblatt, Chief Executive Officer of the Anti-Defamation League, responded stating, “The anti-immigrant movement in the United States has been empowered in ways we have never seen before. You have the kind of hateful rhetoric coming from people in positions of authority, starting with the White House demonizing immigrants, dehumanizing Latinos and people seeking refuge in this country. We need people in positions of authority need to use that authority wisely.”

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