[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 164 (Thursday, November 18, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H12885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONDEMNING RECENT HATE 
                     CRIMES IN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 254) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives condemning recent hate crimes in Illinois and Indiana, 
and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 254

       Whereas diversity and tolerance are essential principles of 
     an open and free society;
       Whereas all people deserve to be safe within their 
     communities, free to live, work and worship without fear of 
     violence and bigotry;
       Whereas crimes motivated by hatred against African-
     Americans, Jews, Asian-Americans, or other groups undermine 
     the fundamental values of our Nation;
       Whereas the communities of Skokie, the West Rogers Park 
     neighborhood of Chicago, Northbrook, and Urbana, Illinois, 
     and Bloomington, Indiana, were terrorized by hate crimes over 
     the Fourth of July weekend, a time when our Nation celebrates 
     its commitment to freedom and liberty;
       Whereas hate crimes tear at the fabric of American society, 
     leave scars on victims and their families, and weaken our 
     sense of community and purpose;
       Whereas Ricky Byrdsong, at age 43, was a loving husband and 
     father, an inspiring community leader, and a former 
     basketball coach at Northwestern University;
       Whereas Ricky Byrdsong was a man of deep religious faith 
     who touched the lives of countless people and whose death is 
     mourned by his family, friends, and community, and by the 
     Nation;
       Whereas Won-Joon Yoon, at age 26, was the only son in a 
     family of 6, and was soon to become a doctoral student in 
     Economics at Indiana University;
       Whereas Won-Joon Yoon was a man who, through his demeanor 
     and firmly-held Christian beliefs, positively influenced 
     those who knew him, and whose death is mourned by his family, 
     friends, and community, and by the citizens of the United 
     States and Korea; and
       Whereas individuals who commit crimes based on hate and 
     bigotry must be held responsible for their actions and must 
     be stopped from spreading violence: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns the senseless violence that occurred in 
     Illinois and Indiana over the Fourth of July weekend;
       (2) conveys its deepest sympathy to the victims and their 
     families;
       (3) condemns the culture of hate and the hate groups that 
     foster such violent acts;
       (4) commends the communities of Illinois and Indiana for 
     uniting to condemn these acts of hate in their neighborhoods;
       (5) commends the efforts of Federal, State, and local law 
     enforcement officials; and
       (6) reaffirms its commitment to a society that fully 
     respects and protects all people, regardless of race, 
     religion, or ethnicity.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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