[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 138 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H9965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is truly a sad occasion that 
as we are about to enter the next millennium that we do have to stand 
on the floor of the United States House of Representatives still asking 
that all people be treated fairly. I listened to the word of my 
colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), when he stated 
that this country was built upon the notion that all men are created 
equal. Unfortunately, I have to disagree with that because our history 
in this country shows that unfortunately we do not consider African 
Americans equal, we do not consider women equal, but we are learning, 
and we are moving. And it would be my hope that as we are about to 
enter to the next millennium, that we would understand the error of our 
ways, and move forward and let it be known that we understand the 
history, the true history, of this country, and we are going to rectify 
it and not allow those individuals who become victims of hate to 
continue to suffer. We in this House, Mr. Speaker, must send a loud and 
clear message that those who want to hate others because they are 
different than they, it will not be tolerated.
  In my lifetime I have seen individuals lynched and no one called to 
justice. In my lifetime, and we are not talking about a long time ago, 
I have seen individuals spat upon because of a different sexual 
orientation. I wish that we did not have to be here, but in 1999, in 
1998, we had incidences like James Byrd dragged to death in the back 
woods by three white supremacists. We had Matthew Sheppard brutally 
murdered by three young men who despised his sexual orientation. We had 
places of worship, three synagogues in Sacramento, destroyed by arson. 
African American churches throughout the south still burned down. Bomb 
threats, death threats to the Muslim community immediately following 
the Oklahoma bombings.
  Tolerance is not in America yet.
  All these situations have one thing in common. They were the results 
of hate crimes committed due to the ignorance and nontolerance of 
individuals.
  This Nation has consistently prided itself on its acceptance of all 
people; at least, that is what we say. What we have an opportunity now 
to do is to put our actions behind our words, for words alone mean 
nothing. It is the action behind the words that give the words value.
  We commend ourselves, and I can know, sitting in the House, we talk 
about all other countries we do not want to do business with because we 
say that they are human rights violations. Well, we must first make 
sure that we take care of our own family and make sure that we are 
standing on the proper moral ground to begin with because how can you 
condemn someone else when you are not standing strong to make sure that 
your own home is in the best of shape?
  During the 1960's, for example, people of all colors, races and 
creeds came together to fight against the racial intolerance that was 
directed specifically that time against African Americans and other 
minorities, and as a result of that united effort, this body passed 
major legislation known as the Civil Rights Act as a statement and 
tried to put some teeth and power behind the words: All men; and we 
should say all men and women; are created equal.
  It is now time for us to take an additional step in that direction by 
attaching the Hate Crimes Prevention Act to the Commerce, Justice and 
the State appropriations bill. This act will make the intent of 
Congress clear and will put power behind the words that we will not 
tolerate hate crimes.
  In conclusion, Dr. King said:
  Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
  Let us make our voices loud and clear; let us put power behind our 
words.

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