[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 823]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                    THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT OF 2007

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I wish 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 September 22, 2007, Matthew Shetima was walking through an alley 
in Farmington, NM, when he encountered three men. Shetima, a gay man, 
claims that Scott Thompson, 21, Jerry Paul, 40, and Craig Yazzie, 37, 
all from New Mexico, called him over as he walked by the men. According 
to the police report, the three men began to hit Shetima, all of them 
calling him derogatory names as they struck him. According to the 
police report, when he fell to the ground, at least one of the men 
asked him if he wanted to die as they continued to kick him. Shetima 
was then pulled into the hotel room the three men were staying in, 
where the assault continued. Fortunately, Shetima was able to escape. 
The district attorney prosecuting the case is seeking sentencing 
enhancements for all three men under New Mexico's hate crime law.
  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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