[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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             LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I today speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce 
hate crimes legislation that would add new categories to current hate 
crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable 
in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to 
highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country.
  On May 17, 2003, Sakia Gunn was fatally stabbed during a 
confrontation about her being a lesbian. Gunn and four other girls were 
waiting for a bus in downtown Newark, NJ, when Richard McCullough and 
another man drove up and asked them to go to a party. When the girls 
responded that they were lesbians, the two men began spewing homophobic 
insults and McCullough proceeded to stab her.
  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. By 
passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts 
and minds as well.

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