[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 26, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                              HATE CRIMES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Coppersmith] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COPPERSMITH. Madam Speaker, today in this House we saw and heard 
two historic speeches, by King Hussein of Jordan and by Prime Minister 
Rabin of Israel. Yesterday, these two countries ended decades of 
hostilities and took a major step on the road to a lasting peace.
  The Jordanian-Israeli accord, and the accompanying ceremonies, are 
significant steps toward a peaceful and secure Middle East. Yesterday's 
and today's events show how implacable enemies--or even placable 
enemies, for that matter--can decide that working together can build a 
better future; that free trade and communications, and diplomatic and 
political cooperation will make a better life for millions of Israelis 
and Jordanians, and make a safer world for all of us.
  I think we Americans understand the significance of these events 
almost instinctively. We know how much our country has benefited from 
our commitment to free and open commerce and communication. We see also 
in these historic events confirmation that even enemies of long 
standing can put aside generations of conflict and dedicate themselves 
to working for peace.
  We Americans have long known that hatred and enmity should have no 
place in our civic life. These events provide yet another example. 
Therefore, Madam Speaker, it saddens me greatly to report to my 
colleagues that the Phoenix area has seen a series of apparent hate 
crimes, the most recent one occurring early last Friday morning with a 
cross burning at Temple Beth Joshua in Scottsdale, AZ.
  These cross burnings show why hate crimes are different, and why they 
demand a response not only from Congress and from law enforcement, but 
also from the entire community.
  Hate crimes are wanton, seemingly mindless acts of violence and 
destruction. Yet at the same time, they are mindful, through the 
deliberate use of symbols or attitudes that have the historic power to 
create a most chilling fear. Whether a cross burning or a lynching, any 
crime specifically motivated by hate threatens our country's most 
cherished ideals: freedom, safety, diversity, and community.
  The cross burnings in Arizona must stop. That is why I have asked 
Attorney General Janet Reno, FBI Director Louis Freeh, and the U.S. 
Attorney for Arizona, Janet Napolitano, for a complete and thorough 
investigation. I want to make sure that law enforcement agencies devote 
the resources needed to investigate and prosecute these crimes.
  I also will continue to work to pass the pending crime bill. I will 
insist that the conference committee retain and harmonize the tough 
hate crime provisions in the two versions of the bill, from this House 
and from the other body.
  Even more importantly, however, we as citizens must oppose hate 
crimes, with shared beliefs and ideas. Friday night, I talked with 
Rabbi David Mayer and some members of the Beth Joshua congregation 
following Friday night services at the temple. It was awful to see the 
physical destruction that the fire caused to this small congregation. 
But I also was heartened when Rabbi Mayer told me that those services 
were the largest ecumenical service ever in Scottsdale. Clergy from 
many different faiths and creeds, as leaders of our community, came 
together on a hot summer evening to stand together against hate.
  Our fight against hate crimes, of course, demands tougher laws and 
prosecutions. However we should not ignore the power of faith, of moral 
example, and of our shared values to fight and to triumph against hate. 
Early Friday morning, someone in Arizona succumbed to evil and hatred. 
But later that same day, the community stood together to say that hate 
has no place in America, and that a vicious attack against some of us 
is a clear threat to us all.
  Madam Speaker, hate crimes are different. The fight against them 
requires appropriate laws and enforcement. But the fight requires more, 
much more. I am heartened that in Arizona, we have realized that we 
must stand together against hate, and by doing so, we stand forthright 
for our country and our values.

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