[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3813-S3814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL ERASE THE HATE AND ELIMINATE RACISM DAY

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of Senate 
Resolution 78 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 78) to designate April 30, 1997, as 
     ``National Erase the Hate and Eliminate Racism Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today in support of Senate 
Resolution 78, which would designate April 30, 1997 as ``National Erase 
the Hate and Eliminate Racism Day.'' I am proud to be a cosponsor and 
am pleased we have acted today to pass this resolution.
  While I believe it is important to set aside a day for special focus 
on fighting hatred and bigotry, this cannot be a 1 day event. That is 
why this resolution calls on every American to practice tolerance and 
to take a strong stand against hate crimes and violence in their 
communities each and every day.
  I commend my colleagues, Senators Baucus and Burns, for introducing 
this important legislation. This legislation will bring awareness to 
what is an unsettling trend in this country--the increasing incidents 
of hate crimes and the growing occurrences of discrimination.
  I am greatly disturbed that hate crimes are on the rise. We saw 
evidence of that rise in the burning of African-American churches 
around the country, which apparently was motivated by racism. We saw it 
in the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City, which was 
reportedly motivated by anti-government hatred.
  We've read and seen reports in the media about hate crimes. We've 
witnessed the violent attacks against individuals because of their 
race, gender, sexual orientation or their beliefs. It's evident in the 
increasing number of individuals in this country who have joined fringe 
groups like militias and other hate groups. We've also seen it in the 
growing anti-immigrant sentiment in our country. As the granddaughter 
of immigrants, I find this particularly repugnant.
  I recently met with a group of Asian-Pacific-American community 
leaders from my State of Maryland. They shared with me very compelling 
stories about discrimination that is faced each and every day by Asian-
Pacific-Americans. Unfortunately, I hear this all too often when I meet 
with minority groups.
  Asian-Pacific-Americans in Maryland are concerned about their right 
to participate in the democratic process. They shared with me their 
fears that their right to engage in campaign electoral activities is 
being questioned, simply because of a few cases of alleged campaign 
fundraising abuses purportedly committed by members of the Asian-
Pacific-American community.
  I have seen reports that indicate hate-motivated attacks on Asian-
Pacific-Americans have grown more than 38 percent since 1993. I find 
that appalling. Violence against Asian-Pacific-Americans, as with other 
minority groups, is bred by stereotypes, discrimination, and tensions 
in communities.
  I am concerned about what is happening in our country. It's 
inconceivable that more than 30 years after the passage of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, we are still grappling with racism in this country.
  This plague of hatred has spread and reached our youth. A young 
African-American boy in Chicago was brutally attacked recently by a 
group of white teenagers. What happened in Chicago is one of the most 
brutal acts we have witnessed in recent years. It is even more 
appalling that the perpetrators were young teenagers.
  We need to educate our youth on tolerance. We need to teach them not 
to hate and not to discriminate. We need to start this process early.
  My State of Maryland is becoming more ethnically diverse. I meet with 
minority groups in my State often and they share the same concerns. 
They are concerned about the climate of hate in our society. They fear 
discrimination in schools and in the work force. And most importantly, 
they are concerned about their children and their children's future. If 
this plague of hate continues in our country, what kind of future are 
we ensuring for our most precious resource--our children?
  We have to change the negative attitudes and perceptions in this 
country about minorities. We have to eliminate the persistence of 
violent hate crimes against racial, ethnic, and religious groups.
  To succeed in making our society free of hate, racism, and 
discrimination, we have to take a stand that we will not tolerate 
random acts of hate, subtle and overt racism, and wide-spread 
discrimination. I am committed to doing my part. This is a commitment 
that has to be made by everyone.
  I believe that this resolution will send the message that we will no 
longer tolerate hate and discrimination in this country. I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my support as a 
cosponsor to Senate Resolution 78. This resolution designates April 30, 
1997, as National Erase the Hate Day.'' I support this resolution 
because it not only designates a day to focus on solutions to hate 
crimes, but also calls upon all nations, States, neighborhoods, and 
communities to take a stand against these hate crimes.
  As I have stated many times, ours is a nation of immigrants 
consisting of people from various racial, ethnic, and religious 
ancestries. People came here from around the world to become part of a 
nation of independence, opportunity and freedom. There should be no 
tolerance or acceptance of any crimes--especially those crimes which 
target their victims simply because of

[[Page S3814]]

their race, ethnicity, or religious background.
  The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights has published the first 
comprehensive summary of hate crimes in America. Their publication, 
Cause for Concern, Hate Crimes in America, provides a number of 
examples of hate crimes that have resulted in injury or even death to 
innocent people solely on account of their racial and other makeup.
  For example, on June 11, 1995, arsonists burned down the home of a 
Latino family in the Antelope Valley, CA, city of Palmdale. They spray 
painted ``white power'' and ``your family dies'' on the walls.
  In August of 1992, a 19 year old Vietnamese American pre-med student 
in Coral Springs, FL, was beaten to death by a mob of white youths who 
called him ``chink'' and ``Vietcong.''
  And, in Oklahoma City, following the bombing of the Federal office 
building, an Iraqi refugee in her mid-twenties miscarried her near-term 
baby after an April 20 attack on her home. Unknown assailants pounded 
on the door of her home, broke windows, and screamed anti-Islamic 
epithets.
  Mr. President, there is no room in our country for these kinds of 
crimes. We must not allow them to continue. We currently have Federal 
laws against hate crimes. Further, the Leadership Conference on Civil 
Rights reports that 47 States and the District of Columbia have passed 
their own hate crime laws. Among other things, these laws ban vandalism 
against religious institutions such as churches, synagogues, and 
mosques.
  It is my sincere hope that this resolution will inspire more people 
to stand up against all hate crimes in all their forms.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
the resolution appear at this point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 78) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                               S. Res. 78

       Whereas the term ``hate crime'' means an offense in which 
     one or more individuals, commits an offense (such as an 
     assault or battery (simple or aggravated), theft, criminal 
     trespass, damage to property, mob action, disorderly conduct, 
     or telephone harassment) by reason of the race, color, creed, 
     religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or 
     mental disability, or national origin of another individual 
     or group of individuals;
       Whereas there are almost 8,000 hate crimes reported to the 
     Department of Justice each year, and the number of hate 
     crimes reported increases each year;
       Whereas hate crimes have no place in a civilized society 
     that is dedicated to freedom and independence, as is the 
     United States;
       Whereas the people of the United States must lead and set 
     the example for the world in protecting the rights of all 
     people;
       Whereas the people of the United States should take 
     personal responsibility for and action against hatred and 
     hate crimes;
       Whereas the Members of Congress, as representatives of the 
     people of the United States, must take personal 
     responsibility for and action against hatred and hate crimes;
       Whereas the laws against hate crimes, which have been 
     passed by Congress and signed by the President, must be 
     supported and implemented by the people of the United States 
     and by Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials 
     and other public servants: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 30, 1997, as ``National Erase the Hate 
     and Eliminate Racism Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States and throughout 
     the world to recognize the importance of using each day as an 
     opportunity to take a stand against hate crimes and violence 
     in their nations, states, neighborhoods, and communities.

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum and 
ask unanimous consent that the time be equally divided on both sides.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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