[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10478]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2001

 Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak 
about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy in 
March of last year. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new 
categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that 
violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society.
  I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred April 27, 
2001 at Kent State University in Ohio. Mikell Nagy, an openly gay 
university student, was eating breakfast with friends when he heard 
someone make an anti-gay comment toward another friend across the room. 
When Mr. Nagy went to see if his friend was okay, a man walked up 
behind him, called him ``faggot'' and punched him in the face. 
According to witnesses, blood was pouring from cuts above his left eye 
and his two front teeth were chipped during the incident.
  I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to 
defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law 
Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 is now 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.

                          ____________________