Urges Federal Bureau of Investigation to include in Uniform Crime Report September 11, 2001 terror attack victims in hate crime statistics.
Impact
If enacted, SR58 would influence how hate crimes are reported and understood in relation to the September 11 attacks. Currently, while the FBI collects data on various forms of hate crimes, the omission of September 11 victims from these statistics undermines the recognition of the attacks as a hate-driven act. Including these victims would amend historical records and acknowledgement, potentially shaping future discussions around hate crime legislation and victim recognition.
Summary
Senate Resolution No. 58 (SR58) urges the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) as victims of hate-motivated murder. The resolution emphasizes that the 2001 attacks, which resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths, including those of emergency responders, are among the most heinous acts committed against the nation. Despite comprehensive reports on bias-motivated incidents filed in the years following the attacks, the victims of September 11 were not categorized as such in the hate crime statistics, which the resolution aims to rectify.
Contention
The resolution addresses the existing gap in the UCR concerning the classification of the September 11 victims. Proponents argue that inclusive reporting would restore the integrity of hate crime statistics by recognizing the attack as a targeted crime against a group based on their national origin. There may be concerns regarding the broader implications of this classification, including how it influences public perception, policy responses to hate crimes, and the historical narrative surrounding terrorism and hate in the United States.
Recognizing September 11, 2026, as "25th Anniversary of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001, Day" in Pennsylvania in memory of the civilians and emergency and armed forces personnel who lost their lives in the attacks.