April 9: House Judiciary to Hold Hearing on Hate Crimes & White Nationalism

Washington, D.C. – On April 9, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on hate crimes and the rise of white nationalism. This hearing will examine hate crimes, the impact white nationalist groups have on American communities and the spread of white identity ideology. The hearing will also foster ideas about what social media companies can do to stem white nationalist propaganda and hate speech online.

Date:               April 9, 2019
Time:               10:00 a.m.
Location:         2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C.

Livestream:     The hearing will stream live here.

Background: Communities of color and religious minorities have long been subject to discrimination and have been targeted by groups who affiliate with ideologies of hate. White identity groups have a long history of oppressing racial and religious minorities and promote individual expressions of violence with the aim of preserving white racial and political hegemony. Social media platforms have served as world-wide conduits to spread vitriolic hate messages into every home and country. The deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia served as a frightening reminder of the current threat white nationalism and hate groups pose to the nation.

Last Congress, Democrats in Congress sent letters to the Administration to demand answers about hate crimes, the targeted surveillance of minority communities, and the growing threat of white supremacy and right wing extremism. To date, the Administration has provided little or no substantive response to these requests.

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