Press Statement  AG Healey Issues Statement in Response to Atlanta Shootings, Rise in Anti-Asian Violence

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today issued a statement in response to the fatal shootings at massage parlors in Atlanta and the surge of anti-Asian racism and violence in America.

“Anti-Asian hate is real, it is on the rise, and it is infecting our nation,” said AG Healey. “We see that from the awful tragedy in Atlanta where Asian women were the target of misogyny, racism, and violence. Let’s be very clear, this wasn’t a man with a sex addiction ‘having a bad day,’ this was a murderous, horrific hate crime and we need to treat it that way instead of making excuses for white violence and domestic terrorism. These are incredibly frightening times for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander families in our state and across the country, and I want people to know that my office is here for them.”

Any Massachusetts resident who has witnessed or experienced bias-motivated threats, harassment or violence may call the Attorney General’s Hate Crime Hotline at 1-800-994-3228 or fill out a civil rights complaint form at this link. Potential hate crimes – including bias-motivated assault, battery, and property damage – should also be reported to the local police in the first instance.

Most hate crimes are prosecuted by the local District Attorney’s Office. However, in some cases, the offender may also be prosecuted civilly, either in addition to criminal charges or instead of criminal charges, by the AG’s Office under the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act (MCRA).

MCRA protects the rights of all residents and visitors to Massachusetts to be free from bias-motivated threats, intimidation, and coercion. The MCRA protects the right to use public parks and transportation, walk on public streets, attend school, live peacefully, and enjoy other basic rights. Under the MCRA, the Attorney General may bring legal action against a perpetrator who threatens, intimidates, or coerces another person on the basis of that person’s membership in a protected group (e.g., race, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability) or protected activity (e.g., exercising the right to vote or the right to associate).

To rework and strengthen current hate crime laws in the state, AG Healey also recently filed a bill – An Act to Reform the Hate Crime Statutes (SD972 / HD1653) – co-sponsored by Senator Adam Hinds and Representative Tram Nguyen.

The bill reworks two seldom-used statutes to better reflect their purpose of charging individuals who target a person based on their membership in a protected class. This change will strengthen the ability of law enforcement and prosecutors to better protect victims, provides clear definitions, and structures separate crimes and accompanying penalties based on the seriousness of the underlying offenses rather than grouping all alleged offenders together.