Bipartisan Support for HRC's "Rally Against Hate"
Feature Story by civilrights.org staff - 7/22/2003
Senators of both parties and anti-hate crimes advocates spoke in support of a pending hate crimes bill at a recent rally organized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) joined Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) raised valid concerns about the persisting problem of hate crimes in American society today.Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was brutally murdered in an anti-gay hate crime, had a clear message at the "Rally Against Hate" - the need for federal legislation that would protect one from hate-inspired violence regardless of sexual orientation or disability.
Trev Broudy, who had suffered brain damage from repeated blows to the head in another hate incident, emphasized the pervasive threat of hate crimes nationwide. The need for protection under law against abominable acts of violence is an inalienable right for all people.
Sen. Kennedy stated, "No member of society ? no one ? deserves to be the victim of a violent crime because of their race, religion, ethnic background, gender, disability, or sexual orientation."
He also emphasized the shortcomings of existing hate crimes legislation. He stated, "The current federal law on hate crimes was enacted soon after the assassination of Martin Luther King. Today, however, it is a generation out of date. It does not apply at all to hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender, or disability."
Senator Hatch (R-Utah) urged legislators to "be a little less political on this issue." He emphasized the need for bipartisan support to fight what he called "domestic terrorism."
Currently, the National Council of Jewish Women, with HRC and other civil rights groups, is launching a "letter a day" campaign to push for a comprehensive Hate Crimes bill.
