FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 3, 2007

Larson Statement on Passage of Hate Crimes bill

WASHINGTON- Congressman John B. Larson (CT-1) issued the following statement regarding House passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.

�In passing this bill, we made a bold statement against the use of violence as a vehicle of hate. This morning we heard the profound words of Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard who was killed in a ruthless act of hate almost ten years ago. In her painful recollection of her son�s killing, she reminded our caucus that this is a matter of conscience, one of protecting the rights and dignity of all human beings.

�It is a tragedy that such terrible injustices and hate motivated violence continue to occur in our society in this day and age. Such hate crimes are antithetic to the principles upon which our nation was founded and should be prosecuted as such. It is the duty of Congress to protect the civil rights of all Americans regardless of their race, faith, ability, sexual orientation or anything else that makes them different. We are one nation under God and there is no place for hate in America. This bill brings us one step closer to preventing and prosecuting acts of aggression motivated by hate and ignorance and embracing the diversity of our nation.� 

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