[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 148 (Wednesday, November 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         HATE CRIMES STATISTICS

 MR. SIMON. Mr. President, last June, I held an oversight 
hearing of the 1990 Hate Crimes Statistics Act. At that hearing, we 
heard from FBI officials and civic leaders about the successes and 
shortcomings of this act encouraging State and local law enforcement 
agencies to report hate crimes to the FBI. We also heard from people 
working to combat intolerance before it becomes violent. Everyone 
involved with this hearing, and indeed with the universal struggle 
against intolerance, agrees that education can be an effective tool in 
teaching tolerance and preventing hate crimes.
  The American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division--ABA/YLD--has 
made a real contribution to this important effort. In 1992, ABA/YLD 
launched a national pilot project, The Tolerance Education Handbook, 
designed to provide a tolerance curricula for elementary, middle 
school, high school, and college students. The message of the pilot 
programs is: ``We will not remain silent in the face of racism and 
bigotry.'' Some of the pilot programs in different States are:
  The South Carolina Young Lawyers Division coordinated attorney/
teacher teams to teach an 8-week course to third and fourth graders, 
where they discussed the application of the Bill of Rights and the 
Constitution to issues of prejudice, discrimination, and tolerance.
  Maryland's Young Lawyers Division presented a forum on tolerance 
education to superintendents and middle school principals from across 
the State.
  The Cleveland Young Lawyers Division sponsored a 2-day program for 
high school students. On the first day, the students viewed an Anti-
Defamation League video in which high school and college students speak 
openly about their experiences with discrimination. On the second day, 
an attorney, police officer, and juvenile court worker appeared at each 
participating school to discuss the legal ramifications and effects on 
a community of committing a hate crime.
  All participating schools asked the Young Lawyers Division affiliates 
to continue their programs into the next semester, and teachers 
reported that their students evidenced a development in critical 
thinking.
  I applaud the commitment and creativity of the ABA/YLD. It is 
essential that we all take responsibility for providing a positive 
example for young people, and that we send the message of tolerance as 
clearly and loudly as possible.

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