[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 124 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1662-E1663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SIGNING THE DISCHARGE PETITION FOR H.R. 1343, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT 
                       HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 2002

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join with my colleagues in 
demanding that Congress consider comprehensive hate crimes legislation. 
I hope my colleagues will join me in signing this discharge petition to 
bring H.R. 1343, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, 
to the floor for an immediate vote.
  H.R. 1343 will expand the scope of the current Federal Hate Crimes 
Law by including crimes motivated by bias against a victim's sexual 
orientation, gender, or disability. It will help crack down on hate 
crimes by providing technical, forensic, and prosecutorial assistance 
to State and local law enforcement. It will also make grants available 
to State and local governments who have incurred great costs in 
investigating and prosecuting these crimes.
  Unlike the Republican Leadership, I do not see violence based on 
prejudice as some abstract legal concept. I disagree that hate crimes 
cannot be discerned from other types of violence and thus do not 
deserve special penalties under the law.
  Crimes based on hate must be viewed for their real consequence. Hate 
crimes are not just violent acts perpetrated upon an individual because 
of their skin color, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. This is 
wrong enough. But these crimes are also intended to terrorize a whole 
community of people, to let them know they too are susceptible to 
violence solely because of who they are or what they believe.
  Hate crimes are also a direct assault upon the fundamental ideals of 
our Nation. They undermine our basic commitment to freedom, equality, 
and justice. They unbind the bonds of community and imperil the common 
character—and common decency—we aspire to as Americans.
  The Republican Leadership ignores this greater threat alongside the 
real life impact these crimes can have on our citizens and communities. 
In my own district—one of the most ethnically and culturally 
diverse in the Nation—hate crimes are not merely a cause for 
worry and concern, they are a reality.
  In each of the communities I represent, people of different origins 
and backgrounds, religions and cultures live together as neighbors. 
But, there is always the prospect that they will be faced with acts of 
discrimination and violence.
  Some of my constituents in Hayward have responded to this threat by 
launching their own effort against racial discrimination called the No 
Room for Racism campaign. They passed an ordinance condemning hatred 
and discrimination in their city and have inspired similar efforts in 
other communities. Their effort is the basis of the No Room for Racism 
resolution I introduced in Congress this year.
  These constituents would tell each of us in this House that a 
comprehensive hate crimes law is a necessity—not only to protect 
them from senseless reprisals, but also to uphold the character and 
decency of the larger community in which they live and raise their 
children.

[[Page E1663]]

  September 11th has led to many pronouncements that Americans have 
come to reaffirm the moral imperatives on which our Nation was founded. 
But, its aftermath has also shown the immediacy of taking real steps to 
protect people's lives. Already, Federal authorities have seen a rise 
in violence against Arab Americans with nearly 5,000 documented 
incidents and several murders motivated by prejudice. This is in 
addition to countless acts of violence that are reported every year 
against African Americans, Asian Americans, Jews, gays and lesbians, 
and women among other minorities. The facts show that it is time that 
we enforce a no tolerance policy on acts of hate.
  I urge my colleagues to stand up for our Nation's ideals, to stand 
united against hatred and intolerance, and demand action on this 
important hate crimes legislation.

                          ____________________