Fighting Fear: Combating Hate Crimes, Violence & Xenophobia in Modern America

July 28, 2021

National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum to host panel discussion July 29 on how law enforcement and law makers can effectively respond to trends of violence.

WASHINGTON, DC (July 26, 2021) – The National Law Enforcement Museum (NLEM) will host a free, virtual panel event with goals of bringing relevant stakeholders together to discuss effective solutions to combat hate crimes in America. The event will be held July 29 via Zoom, beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

While the national spike in hate crimes and other xenophobic acts has left many sounding the alarm, especially in the wake of several high-profile incidents involving the Asian-American Pacific Islander community, others simply see this spike as just the latest in an historic legacy of hate crimes in America.

“Any time a violent act or trends of violent acts occur, it should be a concern to all of us,” said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “We want to provide avenues in which difficult topics like this may be addressed openly and where solutions for the future can be formed. This is the history of law enforcement, always adapting, and our job is to tell that story.”

“Both the FBI and the DOJ have reported that hate crimes are on the rise in the United States and are committed to taking action to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable.” said Sharon Sayles Belton, VP, Strategic Partnerships, Thomson Reuters.

“This panel discussion will shed some light on the efforts underway to address this abhorrent behavior in our society.”

This conversation examines several key questions facing our nation today: What is driving this latest wave of aggression? How have past events in American history laid the groundwork for increasing hate crimes along racial, ethnic, and religious lines? How can government agencies like law enforcement and the legislative branch work together on swift and effective solutions? And what role, if any, can Good Samaritans or the private sector play in facilitating the pursuit of understanding and peace between us?

Welcoming remarks will be given by Ferranto, and the discussion will be moderated by Tom Kim, General Counsel, Thomson Reuters.

Panelists include:

Cynthia Deitle, FBI Special Agent in the Civil Rights Program (Ret.); currently Director of Associate General Counsel – Civil Rights, Facebook
Paul Goldenberg, Chairman and President, Cardinal Point Strategies; U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council
Cpt. David Hong, Asian Community Liaison, Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
Dr. Yohuru Williams, Professor of History and Founding Director of Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas
Ted Gong, Executive Director, 1882 Foundation

To register to attend the virtual panel discussion, visit: https://lawenforcementmuseum.org/events/

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors the names of all of the 22,611 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The National Law Enforcement Museum at the Motorola Solutions Foundation Building is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.