Lamont Announces New CT Hate Crimes Advisory Council

Ridgefield CT

02 June, 2021

11:20 AM

Description

CONNECTICUT — Following a steady news feed of swastika graffiti and mysterious nooses, Gov. Ned Lamont announced he would is appointing 25 people to serve as members of the newly formed Connecticut Hate Crimes Advisory Council. Created by a recently adopted state law, the council will be responsible for encouraging and coordinating programs that increase community awareness and reporting of hate crimes and to combat such crimes. It also can make recommendations for legislation concerning hate crimes, including recommendations on restitution for victims, community service designed to remedy damage caused by any such crime, and additional alternative sentencing programs for first-time offenders and juvenile offenders. "Nobody should ever have to fear being the victim of the crime for being the person they are, and it is unconscionable that people continue to be targeted throughout our country because of the color of their skin, the religion they practice, the person they love, their country of birth, or any other personal attributes that identify who they are," Lamont said. The governor is responsible for appointing the membership of the council, as well as selecting two of them to serve as co-chairpersons. The council is administered within the Office of the Chief State's Attorney. Lamont is appointing the following members: Co-chair: Douglas S. Lavine, Judge Trial RefereeCo-chair: Amy Lin Meyerson, President, Connecticut Bar AssociationCorrie Betts, NAACPMichael Bloom, Jewish Federation Association of ConnecticutJason O. Chang, Asian American Studies Institute, UConnReverend Dr. Lindsay E. Curtis, Grace Baptist ChurchRabbi Michael Farbman, Temple Emanuel of Greater New HavenAndrew A. Feinstein, Feinstein Education Law Group, LLCSteven D. Ginsburg, Anti-Defamation League of ConnecticutErene Hammond, UnitedHealth GroupSteven Hernández, Commission on Women, Children, Seniors Equity & OpportunityRathanak M. Keo, #IAmNotAVirusTamara K. Lanier, NAACP, Connecticut Racial Profiling Project, ACLU ConnecticutDiana R. Lombardi, Connecticut Trans Advocacy CoalitionDuane J. Lovello, Director of Security, Yale UniversityGary M. MacNamara, Public Safety & Government Affairs, Sacred Heart UniversityRobin P. McHaelen, True ColorsJohn P. Merz, Advancing Connecticut TogetherAida Monsoor, Coordinator, Islamic Chaplaincy Program, Hartford SeminaryFernando J. Muñiz, Community Solutions, Inc.MD Masudur Rahman, Marjars Sourcing, Inc.Precious Price, Middletown Racial Justice CoalitionSharad A. Samy, The Commonfund for Nonprofit OrganizationsJonathan S. Slifka, Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability ServicesRichard A. Wilson, UConn School of Law "I appreciate the willingness of this diverse group of members who have volunteered to serve on this council and deliver their insights so that we can establish policies that prevent these crimes from happening in the first place and ensure the appropriate actions are taken in the event that we are faced with crisis in the future," Lamont said. State statutes name nine officials who serve as ex-officio members. These include: the Chief State's Attorney;the Chief Public Defender;the commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection;the president of the Connecticut Bar Association;the president of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association;the president of the South Asian Bar Association of Connecticut;the president of the Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association;the president of the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association; andthe president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association.