[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13084]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF THE NORTHERN OHIO HATE CRIMES WORKING GROUP, 2005 CLEVELAND 
                               CONFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2005

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
the Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG), as volunteers from 
participating agencies gather on June 20 and June 21 for the 4th Annual 
Hate Crimes Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The mission of the HCWG has 
been constant since its creation in 1998--to provide programs of 
prevention and education regarding hate crimes; to build avenues of 
human rights and civil rights through community outreach, education and 
awareness programs; to create and strengthen bonds of communication, 
solutions and action between community leaders, elected officials, 
educators and law enforcement teams.
  The HCWG is comprised of more than fifty organizations from Cleveland 
and Northern Ohio. The all-volunteer leadership and membership of HCWG 
reflects a rich palette of cultural diversity--a representation as 
diverse as the cultural fabric of Northern Ohio. The three-day 
conference serves to underscore the significant work of the individuals 
in our community who work with unwavering diligence to address and 
prevent hate crimes in our community--our police officers, teachers, 
social workers, business owners and leaders, community leaders and 
neighborhood volunteers.
  As Eleanor Roosevelt said, ``Where, after all, do universal human 
rights begin? In small places, close to home.''
  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition 
of every leader and member of the Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working 
Group, sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern 
District of Ohio and the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation. Their vigilant dedication to stand united against hate 
crimes serves as a light of possibility for the attainment of peace and 
civil justice within our homes, schools and along our streets. This 
conference offers the Cleveland community a critical forum to gauge our 
collective and ongoing efforts, and presents the promise of unwavering 
protection of civil and human rights for every one of us.

                          ____________________