[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S1197]]
                        THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT

  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.
  In the early morning hours of February 15, 2008, a young man and his 
friend were passing through Temple University's campus in Philadelphia, 
PA, when they found themselves in a physical fight with four Temple 
students. According to reports, the two non-Temple students were 
standing in front of a traditionally Jewish fraternity house when they 
were accosted by the four attackers. One of the four allegedly asked 
the two visitors if they were Jewish. When they replied that they were 
not, one of the Temple students evidently began to yell, ``We hate 
Jews! We hate Jews!'' According to police, one of the two victims was 
seriously injured and suffered a broken nose and fractured right eye 
socket. Temple released a letter characterizing the incident as a hate 
crime. The attackers have been suspended pending a University 
Disciplinary Committee hearing, while Philadelphia police are pursuing 
criminal charges and have issued warrants for the suspects' arrest.
  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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