[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 14200]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I 
introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new 
categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence 
of any kind is unacceptable in our society.
  I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Lincoln 
Park, MI, on September 19, 2001. Mr. Ali Almansoop, a 45-year-old U.S. 
citizen originally from Yemen, was shot to death by a man who confessed 
the attack was in retaliation for the September 11 tragedy. The 
attacker broke into the apartment where Mr. Almansoop was asleep, 
dragged him out of bed, and shot him in the back as he attempted to 
flee. The Department of Justice investigated the slaying as a hate 
crime murder.
  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 is 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.

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