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

August 10, 2000

PRESS RELEASE

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

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Participates in Launch of Virtual Convention

Online campaign urges political parties and Congress to pass hate crimes bill
(WASHINGTON, DC) - The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is proud to support this weekís launch of the first-ever "Virtual Convention" to urge politicians all over our nation to support and pass the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This virtual convention, which is timed to coincide with the national political conventions, is part of the UnitedAgainstHate.org campaign, an Internet-enhanced campaign supporting the organizing efforts of individuals and organizations around the nation urging Congress to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The Lawyers' Committee, as a member of this coalition, has had a long history of supporting the passage and implementation of Hate Crimes laws. We now call on the House to finish what the Senate started in June when, in a bipartisan effort, it passed The Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2000.

"This campaign embarks on a new usage of the interactive technology of the Internet to promote equal justice, to empower and mobilize individuals throughout our country to show their support of The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and to let millions of others know of its importance," said Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyersí Committee. "This technology affords all citizens the opportunity to show our elected officials and the whole nation the widespread and diverse support these laws enjoy and also gives them the chance to urge others, including their member of Congress, to support this legislation."

The cloud of hate violence hanging over our nation endures. Today, our nation commemorates the first anniversary of the devastating hate motivated attack on children at a Jewish daycare center and the subsequent murder of Joseph Ileto, a postal carrier who was Filipino American, by a white supremacist. These and other attacks make clear that our nation continues to be plagued by the horrible violence visited upon its citizens because of their identities. As the country remembers, it becomes even more critically important to act on this legislation now - our society cannot wait to protect millions of Americans from the hate and racial violence that is escalating in the United States.

"Hate crimes against persons because of their race, color, gender, religion or sexual orientation undermine the fundamental tenets of our democracy," said Arnwine. "The right to personal safety and protection is seminal to an individualís right to participate in society. Hate crimes violate the civil rights of all Americans, until a person can freely walk the streets of our nation without fear that their identity will make them targets for hate violence, our quest as a nation for racial equality cannot be fulfilled."

UnitedAgainstHate.org represents the first time that local and national civil rights, womenís, religious, and labor organizations have collectively leveraged Internet technology to mount a coordinated grassroots online advocacy campaign. The virtual convention parallels the conventions with a platform, keynote speakers, and an interactive opportunity for visitors to be ìdigital delegates.î The site also includes a number of ìkeynote speakersî: i.e., video testimonials from civil rights, womenís, religious and labor leaders. Finally, the site showcases a "Platform Against Hate," containing stories of victims of a number of recent hate crimes, including the recent dragging death of a migrant farm worker in California, the April shootings in Pittsburgh, and last yearís fourth of July shooting spree throughout the Midwest.

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