[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H1796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HATE CRIMES

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, just last week, I had the 
privilege of coordinating and working with other Members of Congress to 
hold a briefing with Judiciary Committee members to discuss the 
jurisdiction of the hate crimes. We were privileged at that time, in 
the midst of their mourning, to have there the parents of Trayvon 
Martin. I had the further privilege, though not wanted, to be in 
Sanford, Florida, before their city commission in order to discuss the 
absolute dereliction of duty that occurred in this terrible tragedy.
  Now, many have raised the question of race. Let me be very clear: the 
race question comes into factor only because of jurisdictional Federal 
laws with which they are now investigating this case; but this is a 
case for every American and every parent. As our Speaker did, it is a 
case to which everyone can ask the simple question. The State and 
Federal jurisdictions are looking at this, and they should review it. 
For those of us who believe that the perpetrator should be arrested, we 
maintain that. He should have been arrested and should be arrested; but 
this is a question for every parent:
  When you send your children out to get Skittles and a tea, whether 
they should come back alive or whether you should have to find them in 
a morgue.
  I remain persistent on finding justice for Trayvon but also justice 
for all of the other young people and others who have been victims of 
crimes like this, with guns, where people have used their language of 
suspiciousness and where all they were doing is walking on the streets 
of America.

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