New LCCREF Report Documents Rise in Hate Crimes and Hate Speech

June 16, 2009 - Posted by Tyler Lewis

Wade Henderson, Michael Lieberman, John Amaya, and Wade Henderson

(l to r) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D. Nev.; Michael Lieberman, Washington counsel of the Anti-Defamation League; John Amaya, legislative staff attorney for MALDEF; and Wade Henderson, president of LCCR at a June 15 Senate press conference in support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Today, LCCREF released a new report, "Confronting the New Faces of Hate: Hate Crimes in America," that analyzes trends in federal hate crimes data, particularly the rise in anti-Latino hate crimes in the wake of the heated national debate over immigration reform. The report also documents how extremists use the Internet, radio and other forms of media to promote their messages and recruit new members.

"In an increasingly diverse America, there is no civil right more fundamental to the working of American Democracy than protecting individuals from acts of violence because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or disability," said Wade Henderson, president of LCCR.

The Senate is expected to vote on their version of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which passed in the House in April, before Congress recesses in August. The bill will provide local authorities with more resources to combat hate crimes and give federal government jurisdiction over prosecuting hate crimes in states where the current law is inadequate.