[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HATE CRIMES

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2000

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, sitting on a bench, riding on a 
bus, or even walking down the street, a hate crime can occur anytime or 
any place. Hate crimes are acts of pure unadulterated evil, wronging 
someone because they are different. People should not and cannot live 
in fear because of their race, color, religion or sexual orientation; 
it is time that we take the strongest course of action to prevent these 
crimes.
  Over the past decade the number of hate crimes has risen rapidly, 
consummating with 1999's ``summer of hate.'' If taking anything 
positive from this infamous period is possible it is, that we have not 
done enough to prevent such crimes. Committing a hate crime is the most 
serious of offenses. It is our duty to make the punishment severe 
enough to deter even the most prejudicial person from considering a 
crime of this size. We in Congress have the ability and the opportunity 
to prevent the possible consequences of bias from occurring.
  Today, as we commemorate the second anniversary of James Byrd's 
tragic death, we must pledge upon ourselves to do everything in our 
power to reduce the number of hate crimes. No one should ever fall 
victim to a hate crime, or any other crime for that matter, and we must 
renew and maintain our focus of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 
1082), to ensure that crimes cease.




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