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NEWS JUNE 21, 2021 ■ 13

Connecticut AG William Tong One Step

Closer to Achieving Major Goal

By Robert Storace

onnecticut Attorney General Tong said it’s not clear at this
William Tong applauded the point how many attorneys from his
Cpassage of a bill establishing office would be part of the first civil
a civil rights division within his of- rights division.
fice. “I, like many people in our state,
“It’s personal for me and personal care about protecting the civil rights
for everybody. As an Asian Ameri- of everyone in Connecticut,” Tong
can, we feel like we have a target on said. “Very often there are civil rights
our back. It makes you feel like you violations that go unaddressed be-
are being hunted,” said Tong, who cause people don’t have access to
is the first Chinese American attor- counsel or just feel like the odds of
ney general in the state. “Now, the Connecticut Attorney General the burden of taking on powerful
resources and the power of the state William Tong/photo courtesy of forces are just too much for them.
government will be there to protect the state of Connecticut Now, the state can step in and take on
people.” Tong was referring to the increase in hate the cases of civil rights of people here in Connecticut.”
crimes against Asian Americans due to the origins Tong said he feels confident hate crimes will level
of the coronavirus in China. out and decrease.
Following a 26-9 approval in the state Senate, “I am optimistic that we will relate to each other
the state House of Representatives voted 96-51 a lot better than we are now,” said Tong, who has
on June 7 for passage of the measure. Gov. Ned previously said the rhetoric coming from former
Lamont still must sign it into law, and has indi- President Donald Trump led some people to act out
cated he will do that. in ways they shouldn’t. “I believe in humanity, and I
Tong made establishing a civil rights division believe in the goodness of people, and the power of
within his office a cornerstone of his campaign for the government to protect people’s rights and help
the job in 2018. If signed into law, Connecticut encourage better behavior.”
would be one of 23 states that give the attorney gen- The attorney general, who was recently in Wash-
eral the power to employ civil litigation to combat ington, D.C., for the signing of a COVID-19 anti-hate
large-scale and systematic discrimination. crimes measure, said he believes President Joe Biden
Tong said the increased reports of hate crimes in “is committed to this cause.”
Connecticut and nationally make a civil rights divi- Pullman & Comley member Steven Stafstrom Jr.,
sion a must for the state. also chairman of the state House Judiciary Commit-
“There, of course, has been a marked uptick in tee, called the legislation “a proactive measure that
hate and bias incidents and also alleged hate crimes. enables our attorney general to intervene in cases
This [legislation] will allow the Office of the Attor- where civil rights violations occur and to defend hu-
ney General to take action,” Tong said. man rights for all residents.” ■
Action could mean “investigations, it could mean
litigation and it could mean injunctive relief. It could Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and anal-
mean anything,” the attorney general said. “We will ysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow him on
use all the tools at our disposal.” Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at 203-437-5950.

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