Colorado Civil Rights Division addresses anti-Asian discrimination

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DENVER - In February 2020, as worries over the Coronavirus spread through Colorado, the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) became aware of concerns around discrimination of people of Asian descent. In response, the division conducted outreach to the Asian American community encouraging reports of discriminatory behavior. Unfortunately, over a year later, disturbing incidents of discrimination and violence against this community continue to occur and escalate around the United States.

According to the organization Stop AAPI Hate (stopaapihate.org) there have been over 3,000 anti-Asian “hate incidents” reported throughout the U.S. since the start of the pandemic last year. In light of these reports, the CCRD wants to reiterate that cultural or ethnic descent should never make an individual a target of discrimination or hatred. 

“There is no place for discrimination or brutality toward a group of people, whether due to a false narrative around the pandemic, or for any other reason” stated CCRD Director Aubrey Elenis. “CCRD will assist wherever we have the authority in addressing issues of discrimination, and we condemn the acts of persecution and violence we’ve seen in recent news reports.”

While acts and threats of violence should always first be reported to local law enforcement, any discriminatory act or practice committed by an employer, housing provider, or place of public accommodation should be reported to the CCRD by filing a formal complaint of discrimination. Whether the discrimination is based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, or any other protected class, it is illegal in Colorado. 

CCRD encourages any person who encounters discrimination in employment, housing, or places of public accommodation to initiate a formal complaint of discrimination at https://ccrd.colorado.gov/

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The Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) is charged with enforcement of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). CADA prohibits discrimination based on protected class in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation. The CCRD enforces CADA primarily through the investigation of complaints of discrimination, but also through mediation and education. If you are an individual with a disability and require an accommodation in order to access CCRD's services, please call 303-894-2997 (local), 800-262-4845 (voice), 711 TTD - Relay, or send an email to dora_ccrd@state.co.us.