[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 19689]
[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 July, 29, 2006, in San Diego at an annual gay pride festival 3 gay 
men were assaulted. During the festival, 3 men with baseball bats began 
yelling anti-gay remarks and a fight broke out. Two of the victims were 
hit in the head with a baseball bat and a third victim was stabbed. In 
the past 32 years the annual gay pride festival has often been the 
focus of anti-gay protesters, many times leading to violence.
  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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