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- Congressional Survey on Hate Crimes
- Raúl M. Grijalva
Response of Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
The Questions
- Are hate crimes a problem in your state?
- Should Congress do something about hate crimes and white supremacist violence in your state? If so, what specifically?
The Response
From The Arizona Republic: "Grijalva told The Republic that hate crimes are a nationwide problem, and that Arizona is at special risk because the state is “at the point of the spear” when it comes to immigration issues. “Those issues have intensified a white supremacist response at many levels,” Grijalva said. “Dog whistles are no longer dog whistles. They are out there pretty loud and clear.” Grijalva added that, in addition to actions such as Sen. Martha McSally’s push to make acts of domestic terror a federal crime, Congress must ensure law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting Americans from crimes of hate and bias have the necessary staffing and financial resources to investigate and prosecute those crimes. “We can make domestic terrorism the same as foreign terrorism, but without resources to bring down these organizations, all we’re doing is providing lip service,” he said. Grijalva said providing adequate funding to federal law enforcement agencies will counterbalance the effects of “Trump’s rhetoric,” which he said has emboldened certain groups."
- Date Aug. 30, 2019
- Reporter Jeannette Hinkle of The Arizona Republic