TO: Board of Directors and Trustees of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Local Affiliates and Friends of the Lawyers' Committee

FROM: Barbara R. Arnwine, Thomas J. Henderson and Diane L. Gross

URGENT!!! - Hate Crimes Prevention Act Vote on June 8, 2000

Yesterday, marked the two-year anniversary of the brutal murder of James Byrd, Jr., who was violently dragged to his death at the hands of those preaching racial hatred. Today, the United States Senate has the unique opportunity to act to prevent this hate-motivated violence as they consider the Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization Bill. As early as today, June 8, 2000, Senator Kennedy and Senator Specter will offer an amendment to the Bill which contains the provisions of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA). This critical piece of legislation is necessary to protect the civil rights of all Americans. We urgently request that all those concerned about enacting this critical anti-bias law and protecting the civil rights of all Americans contact their Senator and urge their support of this amendment.

Demand that passing the HCPA be an absolute priority before the end of this Congress. The Senate needs to know that you care deeply about bias-motivated violence and will not tolerate their failure to enact the HCPA before they adjourn for this year.

WHAT IS NEEDED?:
Contact members of the Senate to inform them that action on the bill could happen as early as TODAY and that they must support the Kennedy/Specter Amendment to the DOD Appropriations Bill.

Capitol Hill Switchboard 202-224-3121 or locate at http://thomas.loc.gov

IMPORTANT POINTS:

• State and local authorities currently investigate and prosecute the majority of hate crime cases and will continue to do so. While many states have hate crimes statutes, they vary considerably in their coverage and the authority they give state law enforcement to act.
• The federal government must have jurisdiction to address those bias-motivated crimes in states which the law is inadequate or where state authorities fail to act.
• HCPA only provides the necessary backstop to state and local enforcement by permitting federal authorities to provide assistance to these investigations and by allowing federal prosecution when necessary to achieve a just result.

Senators who have not endorsed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act:
Abraham (R-MI) Bryd (D-WV) Campbell (R-CO) Dewine (R-OH) Domenici (R-NM)
Edwards (D-NC) Enzi (R-WY) Feingold (D-WI) Fitzgerald (R-IL) Gorton (R-WA)
Hollings (D-SC) Moynihan (D-NY) Lincoln (D-AR) Stevens (R-AK) Thomas (R- WY)
Voinovich (R-OH)