LDF Comments on Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing A Threat to Justice Everywhere: Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America

Dehumanizing language has no place in the public sphere, and yet public officials, who should be held to a higher standard, are resorting to this type of discourse, most recently against an Arab-American woman and Haitian migrants. Public figures, particularly those charged with representing constituencies made up of diverse communities, have a responsibility to use their public platforms with care to avoid exacerbating an environment of intolerance that condones or encourages violence against any group or community. LDF urges Committee members to use their platforms responsibly and to create an environment of tolerance that respects the dignity of all people. LDF also urged the Committee to hold members who denigrate the office they hold with insults and other forms of verbal abuse against witnesses to account.

Read the full letter here.