Statement on Passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Press Release

Statement on Passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act

"The House today made history by expanding upon the principles of equal rights and equal protection so fundamentally embodied in our Constitution by passing H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. I am terribly proud that 236 of my colleagues joined me in taking this bold step towards justice.

This legislation offers federal protection for victims of hate crimes targeted because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. These characteristics are included in the hate crimes legislation not because they deserve any "special protection," but because of a history of particularly heinous and violent crimes committed against individuals based on such characteristics.

Hate crimes are different than other violent crimes because they seek to instill fear into a whole community - be it burning a cross in someone's yard, the desecration of a synagogue, or a rash of beatings outside a gay community center. These are crimes motivated by prejudice and meant to send a message to society and others who belong to the same category. This sort of domestic terrorism demands a strong, federal response because this country was founded on the premise that persons should be free to be who they are - without fear of violence.

Today's legislative victory is critical for both substantive and symbolic reasons. The legal protections are essential to our system of ordered justice…but on a symbolic basis, it is important that the House enunciated clearly that hate-based violence targeting women, gays and lesbians, transgender individuals and people with disabilities will no longer be tolerated.

Our society is not perfect; the passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act will not make all hate crimes go away. But this legislation gives state, local, and federal law enforcement authorities the necessary resources and tools to combat violent crimes based on prejudice and intended to terrorize a group of people or an entire community. Such hate crimes are in desperate need of a federal response. I look forward to Senate passage of this bill."

Source