[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11788]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN REMEMBRANCE OF JAMES BYRD, JR.

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to remember a life that was 
untimely taken and to recall a horrific hate crime that shocked a 
nation. Ten years ago this week James Byrd, Jr., was dragged 3 miles--
chained to the back of pickup truck--on a rural road in Jasper County, 
TX, to his death. It was said that a blood trail of body parts and 
personal effects stretched over 2 miles, with Byrd's severed head, 
right arm, and neck found almost a mile from where his tattered torso 
was discarded. Byrd's face had been spray painted black.
  James Byrd was a victim of the cruelest form of racial intolerance. 
He was murdered for no other reason than for the color of his skin. To 
think that such a senseless crime could occur in the wake of so many of 
our Nation's civil rights milestones is disheartening. It is also a 
stark reminder that much work remains to be done in protecting 
minorities and ending intolerance.
  No American should have to live in fear because of their sexual 
orientation, race, gender, national origin, or disability. As a nation, 
we cannot afford to become complacent. We must forever strive to reach 
the golden rings of democracy--that is, equality, opportunity, freedom 
and tolerance. We must also remain vigilant and guard against 
individuals and groups that seek to marginalize and terrorize whole 
groups of individuals. That is why, as I have done many times before, I 
come to the floor to urge my colleagues to enact Federal hate crimes 
legislation this year. We must pass this legislation and send a message 
that crimes of intolerance and hate are especially deplorable.
  The Government's first duty is to defend its citizens and to defend 
them against violence and harm associated with intolerance and hate. I 
have introduced legislation, the Matthew Shepard Act, with my colleague 
Senator Ted Kennedy, to ensure that the Government has all the 
resources necessary to investigate and prosecute hate-motivated crimes. 
The Matthew Shepard Act would better equip the Government to fulfill 
its most important obligation of protecting all of its citizens.
  On this anniversary of the death of James Byrd, let us renew our 
Nation's commitment to protecting all Americans regardless of their 
sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin, gender, 
disability, or color by passing the Matthew Shepard Act.

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