Committee on Public Safety March 24, 2021
RESOLUTION
Call for Subject-Matter Hearings on Hate Crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
WHEREAS, the organization "Stop AAPI Hate" tracked nearlv:3,86o hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) across the United States from March 19; 2020 to February 28, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, high-profile incidents of attacks against Asians in San Francisco and near Atlanta have left seniors in critical condition and seven women dead; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has not been immune to anti-Asian hate incidents, with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations reporting multiple incidents annually; and,
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown told media, that CPD would be increasing patrols in beats with.significant Asian populations; and,
WHEREAS, racism against Asians has a long history in the United States, stretching from the "Chinese Exclusion Act" and the internment of Japanese-Americans, to current anti-Asian rhetoric relating to COVID-19;.and,
WHEREAS, solidarity with AAPI communities requires that the City of Chicago work towards preventing hate crimes and combating racial bias generally; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, hereby call upon the Committee on Public Safety to hold subject-matter hearings on how the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, and other city departments are working to prevent anti-Asian hate incidents, build trust within AAPI communities, and support victims; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this hearing shall include a presentation by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations on reported hate crimes from 2020 up to the date ofthe hearing and an overview of recognized best practices on preventing hate crimes; and,
44th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, and the Chicago Police Depa...
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