[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20361]
[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 November, 9, 1996, Alan Fitzgerald Walker was murdered in his home 
in Fayetteville, AR. The tires on his car were slashed and anti-gay 
notes were written on the doors of the vehicle. Prosecutors say Adam 
Blackford and Yitzak Marta met Walker outside of a gay night club and 
murdered him. Marta testified at Blackford's trial that the motivation 
for this crime was the victim's sexual orientation.
  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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