[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16233]
[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.
  The Nation's leading gay and lesbian news magazine, the Advocate, 
reported that in Baton Rogue, LA, Cedric Thomas was shot several times 
on May 18, 2004, and finally succumbed to death from complications 
related to those wounds several weeks later.
  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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