[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT OF 2007

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to 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 January 5, 2006, in Fairfax County, VA, Leslie Carver was charged 
with murder for killing Marvin Greenwell. Greenwell was one of nine gay 
men murdered in what was known as the ``pickup murders'' of 1993 and 
1994. The ``pickup murders'' were a series of attacks against gay men 
in the Washington, DC area. While most of these murders remain 
unsolved, DNA evidence was able to link Carver to the Greenwell murder.
  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 Matthew 
Shepard 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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