[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 127 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1760-E1761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            LOST OPPORTUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 2000

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is shameful to me that we could 
adjourn the 106th Congress without having strengthened our federal hate 
crimes law to protect victims who are chosen because of their gender, 
sexual orientation or disability and to allow federal

[[Page E1761]]

prosecutors to pursue hate-crime cases if local authorities refuse to 
press charges.
  Unfortunately, hate violence is becoming an all too common occurrence 
in our communities. That an individual could be so filled with rage for 
his or her fellow human being is unthinkable--but it has happened in 
small towns and big cities across this nation and it will continue to 
happen, until and unless we stand up to bigotry and hate by ensuring 
that the civil rights of all people are protected. The expanded Hate 
Crimes legislation that was included in the Senate Defense 
Authorization bill was just that kind of tool.
  The defeat of expanded hate crimes legislation ignores overwhelming 
public support for this critical civil rights legislation. Since 1998 
when an African American man was tied to the back of a truck and 
dragged to death by white supremacists in Jasper, Texas, several high 
profile hate crimes have continued to shock our country, including a 
hate based killing spree that profoundly touched my community during 
July 4th celebrations in 1999.
  I am proud to represent one of the most diverse districts in America 
and I will continue to stand with my constituents against bigotry and 
hate and actively work to expand and improve the federal Hate Crimes 
law. We cannot and we should not leave Washington without ensuring that 
the civil rights of all Americans are honored and protected.

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