"Signing this petition creates positive change and ensures the safety of everyone in California. We, as a community, will not tolerate hate. Let's close the loophole in the hate crime law.

Californians proudly support AB 1064 (Low), a bill that aims to strengthen existing hate crime regulations by making it easier to understand what constitutes 'bias motivation,' thereby addressing the intentional targeting of victims. Hate crimes are often not officially reported, and proving them in legal proceedings can be challenging. It's simply common sense that if a criminal targets victims based on characteristics protected by hate crime laws, those actions should be considered hate crimes. However, according to the current law, this alone isn’t enough to prove a hate crime.

In practice, hate crimes require the presence of derogatory language or other biased elements, regardless of any additional evidence. AB 1064 seeks to simplify this process by stating that evidence of bias against a victim’s protected characteristic can be inferred from the offender’s actions, especially when victims are singled out based on these traits. This straightforward provision effectively labels these actions as hate crimes.

'Criminals shouldn't be able to target people without facing consequences for their hateful actions.' Assemblymember Evan Low introduced AB 1064, a bill that allows evidence related to bias motivation to be presented in trials and provides better protection for hate crime victims.

Public safety for everyone, especially our elderly, is a fundamental right that should never be compromised. It deeply saddens me to witness the rise in hate crimes targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in California. As a concerned citizen, I am writing this petition to urge our lawmakers to pass Bill AB 1064 and take a strong stand against AAPI hate.

My personal story is one of witnessing the devastating impact of hate crimes on innocent lives. The recent tragic incident involving my father, Vicha Ratanapakdee, an elderly Thai man who was senselessly attacked and killed while taking his morning walk in San Francisco, has shaken our community to its core.https://abc7news.com/san-francisco-senior-attacked-sf-man-pushed-on-video-day-time-attack-caught-anza-vista-crime/10205928/

This act of violence fueled by racial hatred highlights the urgent need for legislative action, and the recent increase in 50 home invasions targeting elderly Asian residents in Oakland, California, is deeply concerning. The impact on the community is alarming.

Assemblymember Evan Lows' proposed bill, AB 1064, aims to close the loophole in existing hate crime laws by allowing evidence related to bias motivation. This crucial step will ensure that criminals who target individuals based on their race or ethnicity face appropriate consequences for their hateful actions.

It's deeply concerning that legislation AB 1064 has sadly stalled in the Assembly Appropriations, chaired by Assemblyman Chris Holden. This pivotal moment raises questions about the state's commitment to justice.

According to Stop AAPI Hate's national report, there have been over 2,800 incidents of anti-Asian hate crimes reported since March 2020 across the United States. Shockingly, California alone accounted for nearly half of these incidents. These statistics paint a grim picture of the discrimination faced by our fellow citizens every day.

By passing Bill AB 1064 into law, we can send a powerful message that discrimination and hatred have no place in our society. This legislation will empower law enforcement agencies with stronger tools to investigate and prosecute perpetrators who commit racially motivated crimes against AAPI individuals.

It is essential that we unite as Californians against all forms of discrimination and stand up for justice together. By signing this petition today, you are joining thousands of concerned citizens who believe in the power of change and are committed to ending AAPI hate in our state.

Let us be the voice for those who have been silenced by hate. Together, we can create a safer and more inclusive California for all its residents. Sign this petition now to urge our lawmakers to pass Bill AB 1064 and put an end to AAPI hate once and for all."

More details:

https://a26.asmdc.org/press-releases/​ 

https://abc7news.com/amp/home-robberies-oakland-armed-robbery-hills-asian-american-violence-elderlv-couple-robbed/13600750/​ 

https://www.windnewspaper.com/article/charges-against-suspect-who-shoved-63-year-old-chinese-woman-victim-to-death-in-bayview-dismissed-according-to-sources

Sincerely,

www.justice4vicha.org