[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce 
hate crimes legislation that would add new categories to current hate 
crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable 
in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to 
highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country.
  Last year, a man was arrested after he and another suspect yelled 
derogatory insults and hate speech toward a group of five lesbian women 
and one transgender man. While one of the men later fled the scene, the 
other continued harassing the group and subsequently physically 
attacked them. Some of the victims sustained injuries including a 
broken nose, black eyes, and injuries around the head and face.
  I believe that the 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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