The deep-rooted "virus" of racism in the United States has spread along with the COVID-19 virus, anti-Asian hate crimes are frequent, discrimination against Muslims is on the rise, racial persecution of indigenous people continues, the racial and economic divide is widening, and racial inequality is worsening. Jamil Darkwal, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's human rights program, said the United States has failed on almost every issue involving racial justice covered by the anti-racism treaty. The United States is one of the world's leading violators of racial justice. The United States lags far behind many countries in achieving and protecting human rights.