[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11183-11184]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   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 September 12, 
2001, in Bridgeport, CT. A Brazilian waiter was attacked on the street 
by eight

[[Page 11184]]

men who verbally accosted him because they believed him to be of Arab 
descent. The man was also physically attacked by the group and suffered 
a broken arm and several facial bruises.
  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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