[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL 
                             DISCRIMINATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2002

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the United Nations 
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. As the 
world celebrates this day, we must reflect and take action against the 
existing discrimination and hate within our borders. Since the 
terrorist attacks on September 11th, thousands of assaults have been 
reported across the country on people of South Asian, Arab, Muslim, 
Sikh, and Jewish backgrounds. By October 11th, the Arab Anti-
Discrimination Committee had already collected more than 700 reports of 
hate crimes in the month following September 11th. People have been 
physically and verbally attacked, others shot and killed, temples were 
firebombed, and houses were vandalized. Innocent Americans, touched by 
the devastation of September 11th like the rest of us, must not be 
singled out for hate just because of their skin color or religious 
beliefs.
  We in Congress condemn this hate and violence. But we must do more. 
It is time to take the next step and strengthen our current laws to 
protect victims who are chosen because of their gender, sexual 
orientation, race, religion, or disability. It is our duty. It is 
especially important that our children learn that hate crimes will not 
be tolerated. This is why we must pass H.R. 1343, The Local Law 
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2001, which would elevate the 
status of hate crimes within federal law and ensure that state 
governments and local police have the tools needed to fight and 
prosecute these crimes. This bill would not take away the ability of 
state and local authorities to continue prosecuting most hate crimes. 
It would allow federal officials to assist overstretched states and 
local officials investigate and prosecute these crimes. It would also 
provide states and localities with grants designed to combat hate 
crimes committed by juveniles.
  Sadly, the prevalence of hate crimes goes beyond the backlash from 
September 11th. The Southern Poverty Law Center estimates that last 
year alone, over 50,000 hate crimes took place. In the summer of 1999, 
the Midwest, including my district in Illinois, was rocked by the 
killing spree of Benjamin Nathaniel Smith. A follower of the World 
Church of the Creator, Benjamin Smith killed Ricky Byrdsong, an 
outstanding role model in the community and a constituent, and Won Joon 
Yoon, a student at Indiana University. The Jewish Community in my 
district was also assaulted on the Sabbath with rounds of gunfire.
  The weekend after the September 11th attacks, I marched in solidarity 
with the South Asian, Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and Jewish communities to 
stand against the terrorist attacks and the attacks on the community. I 
saw not only overwhelming sadness, but the fear of violence on the 
faces of those walking with me. Members of my community and the 
district that I represent were afraid to send their children to school. 
They did not want to leave their homes even to go grocery shopping. But 
I also saw the commitment from community members to combat bigotry and 
racism.
  Those who commit hate crimes perpetuate the sense of terror in our 
communities and undermine the ideals of our nation. This is why it is 
so important that hate crimes be recognized for what they are and 
punished accordingly. These crimes not only devastate victims and their 
family and friends, but they devastate the community to which the 
victim belongs. This community becomes stricken with grief as well as 
the fear that they could be next. The violence inflicted on those based 
solely on skin color or religion violates the very essence of what our 
nation is about. Our country represents tolerance and acceptance. We 
must pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. I am 
proud to represent one of the most diverse districts in the nation and 
I will work to protect and honor the civil rights of all our people, 
without any exceptions.

                          ____________________