Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel was encouraged by a Syracuse jury handing down a manslaughter conviction on Friday, for the murder of a transgender person. This was only the second hate crime conviction in the United States related to a killing of a transgendered victim. The House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation in April to establish hate crime protection to crimes committed because of a person’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The Senate recently approved its own version.

Rep. Engel said, “The killing of Lateisha Green was a tragedy and occurred only because the victim was a transgender person, and the killer was a bigot. That is the definition of a hate crime. Since 1991, there have been more than 118,000 hate crimes documented by the FBI with over 7,600 occurring since 2007. This kind of violence has no place in America, and I am proud to have supported the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. That measure is designed to extend hate crime protection to more Americans. Hopefully, jury decisions such as this one, and legislation pending before Congress will deter people with hate in their heart, and make them think twice before taking someone else’s life.

“I applaud the decision by the jury in Syracuse, and I mourn the loss of Lateisha Green. I remain hopeful no other Lateisha Greens are killed because of the prejudices of another person. With over 300 law enforcement, religious, civil rights, disability and other organizations supporting our legislation, I look forward to seeing the final version of the legislation to be sent to President Obama for his signature.”