[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT OF 2007

  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.
  Early in the morning of June 2, 2007, in Lowell, MA, three men 
severely beat 22-year-old James Nickola for being gay. Nickola, a 
transsexual, was walking alone on his way home from a nightclub when 
the three men began to follow him. When the men started to yell 
homophobic epithets, Nickola says he quickened his pace, but the men 
were able to catch up to him about 200 feet from a police substation. 
The men then attacked, hitting Nickola repeatedly in the face, knocking 
him down, and continuing to beat him. The assailants, whose attack 
partially severed Nickola's lip, allegedly continued to utter 
homophobic slurs and told him, ``we don't want your kind in this 
neighborhood.''
  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 Matthew 
Shepard 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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