[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 18780]
[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. In the last Congress 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 on September 
21, 2001. In Holden, MA, a 20-year-old man stopped at a traffic light 
assaulted another driver because he thought he was of Middle Eastern 
descent. The assailant got out of his car, pulled the driver out of his 
van, and proceeded to attack the victim. The assailant punched and 
yelled at the victim, striking him several times before the van driver 
attempted to fight back.
   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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