Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
1401 New York Avenue, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
202-662-8600

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Diane Gross
202-662-8600

June 21, 2000

Lawyers' Committee Applauds Passage of Hate Crimes Legislation

The United States Senate Passes Critical Civil Rights Legislation in Bipartisan Vote (57-42)

Lawyers' Committee Calls on House of Representatives to Pass Similar Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the United States Senate voted in a bipartisan manner to strengthen existing hate crimes laws. This precedent-setting vote was critical to preventing hate-motivated violence and protecting the civil rights of all Americans. In casting a favorable vote on the Kennedy-Smith Amendment, members of the Senate provided leadership by directly addressing the devastating violence increasingly visited upon the citizens of our nation because of their identities. We need look no further than the brutal murder of James Byrd, Jr., two years ago and the subsequent rash of hate crimes in Wyoming, Illinois, California and Pennsylvania for proof that the vital civil rights protections provided and enhanced by this legislation are fundamental to our nation's anti-discrimination laws.

"The Senate vote advances critical civil rights laws that help all Americans by acknowledging and preventing the often brutal bias related violence perpetuated on individuals because of their identity. This vote was an outstanding example of the Senate working, in a bipartisan way, to overcome political differences for the good of the nation," said Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee.

This legislation is essential to close gaps in current law and expand federal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute hate crimes-including those that occur because of the victim's gender, disability or sexual orientation. It will strengthen the federal government's ability to prosecute all bias motivated crimes and also protect the ability of state law enforcement to act where state law allows them to do so. Additionally, the legislation provides for federal assistance to state and local governments for training and, most importantly, for helping them to prosecute these violent hate-related crimes.

"We are tremendously grateful for the leadership in the Senate which made passage of hate crimes legislation a clear priority, especially Senator Kennedy and Senator Smith who offered the Amendment," commented Arnwine. "We now call on the leadership of the House to pass a similar provision so that we can enact this important legislation this year and extend civil rights protections for all who have witnessed violence against them or a family member because of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation."

This amendment is a reasonable and fair means to remedy a gap in existing federal jurisdiction by making sure that victims of these brutally violent crimes do not fall between the cracks in existing laws. The Lawyers' Committee applauds this action by the Senate because it believes that this legislation is a critical step to protecting millions of Americans from the hate and racial violence that is escalating in our society.

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