[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4982]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    THE 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 strengthen and 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 the night of January 21, 2008, in Charleston, SC, Adolphus Simmons 
was shot to death on the steps of his apartment. According to reports, 
Simmons had been dressed as a woman when the attack occurred. Friends 
say that Simmons, an 18-year-old transgender person, often dressed in 
women's clothes. Sadly, the suspect charged with Simmons' murder is 
only 15 years old. Baffled by this seemingly unprovoked attack, 
investigators are not ruling out that Simmons may have been targeted 
based on his 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. Federal laws 
intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes 
motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would 
better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by 
protecting new groups of people as well as better protecting citizens 
already covered under deficient laws. I believe that by passing this 
legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as 
well.

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