[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8129]
[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 violent crime that has occurred in our 
country.
  On the night of April 4, 2008, a 17-year-old Black man was traveling 
by bus from Wilmington, DE, to New Castle, DE, when three White men 
engaged him in a physical altercation. David and Lloyd Walker, 27 and 
23 years old respectively, were identified by witnesses and arrested, 
but their accomplice, known only as ``Ritchie,'' is still at large. 
According to police, the three men began to argue with the young man 
when he complained that they were bumping into him. When the 17-year-
old man got off the bus, the three men followed and attacked him, 
yelling racial slurs and threatening to kill him. Police say David 
Walker stabbed the teen five times in the back, puncturing one of his 
lungs and inflicting more stab wounds on his forearm. The three men 
fled the scene immediately after the stabbing. Both David and Lloyd 
Walker were charged with first-degree assault, possession of a deadly 
weapon during a felony, felony hate crime, and conspiracy.
  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 
providing the resources necessary to adequately investigate and 
prosecute violent crimes. I believe that by passing this legislation 
and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

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