[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9006]
[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.
  In the early morning hours of Saturday, May 10, 2008, in Muncie, IN, 
Kyle Flood was attacked for being gay in what he believes was a hate 
crime. Flood, a 21-year-old college student at Ball State University, 
says he was leaving a bar at about 3 a.m. when two college-aged men 
approached him and his friends using anti-gay epithets. When the two 
groups crossed paths, a fight erupted. Flood was shoved to the ground 
and punched in the face. He was later treated at the local hospital for 
a scratched cornea, swollen eye, cuts and bruises. The Ball State 
community has reacted to the beating, and students have been informed 
to stay calm and try to travel to and from social events in groups. 
Police Chief Gene Burton has said that bias-motivated attacks are rare 
among students, but that they have happened before. No arrests have 
been made in connection with the assault.
  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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