[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 254 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 254

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning recent 
                  hate crimes in Illinois and Indiana.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 19, 1999

Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Mr. Hostettler, and Mr. Porter) submitted 
 the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning recent 
                  hate crimes in Illinois and Indiana.

Whereas diversity and tolerance are essential principles of an open and free 
        society;
Whereas all people deserve to be safe within their communities, free to live, 
        work and worship without fear of violence and bigotry;
Whereas crimes motivated by hatred against African-Americans, Jews, Asian-
        Americans, or other groups undermine the fundamental values of our 
        Nation;
Whereas the communities of Skokie, the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, 
        Northbrook, and Urbana, Illinois, and Bloomington, Indiana, were 
        terrorized by hate crimes over the Fourth of July weekend, a time when 
        our Nation celebrates its commitment to freedom and liberty;
Whereas hate crimes tear at the fabric of American society, leave scars on 
        victims and their families, and weaken our sense of community and 
        purpose;
Whereas Ricky Byrdsong, at age 43, was a loving husband and father, an inspiring 
        community leader, and a former basketball coach at Northwestern 
        University;
Whereas Ricky Byrdsong was a man of deep religious faith who touched the lives 
        of countless people and whose death is mourned by his family, friends, 
        and community, and by the Nation;
Whereas Won-Joon Yoon, at age 26, was the only son in a family of 6, and was 
        soon to become a doctoral student in Economics at Indiana University;
Whereas Won-Joon Yoon was a man who, through his demeanor and firmly-held 
        Christian beliefs, positively influenced those who knew him, and whose 
        death is mourned by his family, friends, and community, and by the 
        citizens of the United States and Korea; and
Whereas individuals who commit crimes based on hate and bigotry must be held 
        responsible for their actions and must be stopped from spreading 
        violence: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the senseless violence that occurred in 
        Illinois and Indiana over the Fourth of July weekend;
            (2) conveys its deepest sympathy to the victims and their 
        families;
            (3) condemns the culture of hate and the hate groups that 
        foster such violent acts;
            (4) commends the communities of Illinois and Indiana for 
        uniting to condemn these acts of hate in their neighborhoods;
            (5) commends the efforts of Federal, State, and local law 
        enforcement officials; and
            (6) reaffirms its commitment to a society that fully 
        respects and protects all people, regardless of race, religion, 
        or ethnicity.
                                 <all>