[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1992-S1993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I wish 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 the morning of February 23, 2008, Melbourne Brunner and his 
partner were eating at the Floridian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, FL, 
when they were verbally and physically assaulted. According to Brunner, 
a man at the restaurant began calling the couple antigay slurs, 
threatening to break their necks and kill them. After a few moments of 
suffering the man's insults, Brunner and his partner decided to leave. 
When Brunner attempted to enter his car, the man came from behind him, 
blocked his path, and struck Brunner in the face, causing him to hit 
his head on the pavement. The assailant then reportedly walked back to 
his

[[Page S1993]]

car, covered up the license plate with his shirt so that his tags would 
not be identified, and sped away. The owner of the Floridian restaurant 
is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the capture 
of this suspect. Brunner was treated at a local hospital for severe 
bruising around his eyes.
  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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