[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26643]
[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 Enhancement 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 will describe one such crime that took place in El Paso, TX. In 
April 2002, police qualified the murder of Hector Arturo Diaz as a hate 
crime. Mr. Diaz was shot in the back by an acquaintance, Justen Hall. 
At the time, Mr. Diaz, a transvestite, was dressed in female clothing.
  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. By 
passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts 
and minds as well.

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