[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I 
introduced the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, a bill that would 
add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that 
violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society.
  On August 12, 2002, Stephanie (Wilbur) Thomas, age 19, was driving 
her friend Ukea (Deon) Davis, age 18, home in southeast Washington, DC. 
The two young transgendered women were members of Transgender Health 
Empowerment, an African-American transgender support group. A car drove 
up beside them, and a gunman fired shots from an automatic weapon. The 
gunfire killed Ukea Davis and critically wounded Stephanie Thomas. The 
gunman then got out of the car and fired additional shots into Thomas' 
car. Though police have not determined if they will file this as a hate 
crime, the additional shots fired at Thomas after the initial shooting 
seem to indicate an overkill factor common in many murders of 
transgendered people in the U.S.
  I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, 
to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law 
Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I 
believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we 
can change hearts and minds as well.

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