[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 138 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H9961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HATE CRIMES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, a mother in Wyoming received 
news that tragically changed her life forever. Her son, an openly gay 
University of Wyoming student, was kidnapped, robbed, beaten, and 
burned by two male assailants. Left exposed to the elements, latched to 
a ranch fence for 18 hours, the young man Matthew Shepard died at a 
local hospital 6 days later. He lost his life as a result of bigotry 
and hate.
  One year later, we stand on the House floor empty handed, unable to 
provide any real comfort to the mothers and fathers of the Matthew 
Shapards of our Nation. One year later, we stand on the House floor to 
mourn the death of Matthew, yet, failed to honor his life in any 
meaningful way. One year later, we are working to ensure that the Hate 
Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 becomes the law of the land, yet a real 
threat exists that we may not succeed.

                              {time}  1800

  Mr. Speaker, it is not fair to the families of America. It is not 
fair to the families who have lost a loved one as a result of hate. It 
is not fair for these families to have to wait for Congress to 
recognize their need and honor the lives of the loved ones they lost. 
It is not fair for Congress to remain silent while these programs 
loudly demand action.
  Hate can occur in any community. In Jasper, Texas, three white men 
dragged a 49-year-old black man for two miles while he was chained to 
the back of a pickup truck. In Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, a 21-year-old 
Private First Class was brutally beaten with a baseball bat in his 
barracks because he was gay.
  In my district over the Fourth of July weekend, hate erupted with a 
vengeance. A madman full of rage and with a gun took the life of two 
men and forever changed the lives of many families.
  This madman left us grieving for Ricky Byrdsong and his family and 
Woo-Joon Yoon, an Asian student from Bloomington, Indiana, and angry 
for the assault on Jewish men peacefully observing the Sabbath.
  Ricky Byrdsong lived in Skokie, Illinois, in my district. He was a 
loving husband, a father, a leader in the community, a former 
basketball coach at Northwestern University, a man of deep religious 
faith, and a constituent. He was murdered in cold blood. His only crime 
was the color of his skin. He was African-American.
  Many skeptics say we do not need this bill. But tell that to the 
family of Ricky Byrdsong or Matthew Shepard.
  I urge my House colleagues on the Commerce-State-Justice Conference 
Committee to agree to include the hate crimes prevention act in the 
final bill. We must expand and improve the Federal hate crimes law and 
punish those who choose their victims based on race or gender, 
ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical disability.
  It would also make it easier for Federal law enforcement officials to 
investigate and prosecute cases of racial and religious violence.
  State and local authorities currently prosecute the majority of hate 
crimes and will continue to do so under this legislation. Keeping the 
Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the appropriations bill will increase 
Federal jurisdiction to allow Federal officials to assist State and 
local authorities to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. It will 
also provide State and local programs with grants designed to combat 
hate crimes committed by juveniles.
  While serving in the Illinois State House, my colleagues and I were 
successful in strengthening State laws dealing with hate crimes. I am 
looking forward to working with my colleagues here in the Congress to 
translate successes on the State level to the national stage.
  The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is such an opportunity to send a clear 
and powerful message that the safety of all people is a priority and 
anyone who threatens that safety will face the consequences.
  As a Member of Congress who represents one of the most diverse 
districts in the Nation, I strongly believe that we must ensure the 
passage of this act. Hate crimes if left unchecked not only victimize 
our citizens but debase and shame us all.

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