Colorado's Democratic lawmakers call on community, colleagues to denounce hate, bigotry during

Colorado’s Democratic lawmakers call on community, colleagues to denounce hate, bigotry during coronavirus pandemic


Democratic state lawmakers say hate and bigotry are on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic and they’re asking Coloradans to join them in condemning it.

“Tragically, some have used this pandemic as a cover and an excuse for abhorrent behavior,” lawmakers wrote in a letter released Thursday. “Hate crimes against Asian Americans, conspiracy theories denigrating immigrants, statements that compare actions taken by the state’s first Jewish governor to the Gestapo — none of these are acceptable, none of it is Coloradan, and none of it will get us through this crisis any safer or any faster.”

On a call with reporters Thursday, lawmakers shared stories of Asian Americans being verbally assaulted in parking lots, black men wearing face coverings being followed around in grocery stores, and Colorado’s stay-at-home order being compared to the Gestapo. The lawmakers are asking Democrats, Republicans and community members to sign onto the letter.

The group Stop AAPI Hate received 1,135 reports of discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from across the country in its first two weeks, according to the reporting center. Groups launched the initiative to track incidents of hate against Asian Americans after hearing about racial profiling and other incidents stemming from people associating them with the coronavirus.

Read more: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/24/colorado-democratic-lawmakers-hate-bigotry-coronavirus/