[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE 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 strengthen and 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 14, 2008, 63-year-old Baljeet Singh was parking his car 
outside a Sikh temple in Queens, NY, when David Wood, 36, approached 
him. Wood reportedly shouted: ``Arab, go back to your country'' before 
physically attacking Singh. Wood continued to hurl epithets as he beat 
Singh, allegedly without provocation. Singh, whose family has attended 
the temple--known as a gurdwara--for over 12 years, sustained a broken 
nose and jaw, both of which may require surgery. Wood, who lives near 
the temple and allegedly has a history of harassing its members, has 
been charged with second-degree assault as a hate crime, second and 
third degree assault, and second-degree aggravated harassment.
  I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, 
to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. Federal laws 
intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes 
motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would 
better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by 
protecting new groups of people as well as better protecting citizens 
already covered under deficient laws. I believe that by passing this 
legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as 
well.

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