[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 25438]
[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.
  On August 08, 2005, in New York, NY, an unidentified gay man was 
beaten by two men in what police are calling a hate crime. The man was 
walking with a companion when two others approached screaming anti-gay 
slurs before attacking the victim; the attacker hit the victim 
repeatedly. Following the attack, the victim was taken to a near by 
Manhattan Hospital for head injuries.
  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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