Howard Dean Applauds Introduction of Hate Crimes Prevention Bill In Senate

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement applauding the introduction of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA) in the Senate and urged its swift passage:

“The bipartisan Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a critical bill that would protect thousands of Americans from the scourge of hate-motivated violence. Each year hundreds of our fellow citizens are victimized because of their race, religion, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. These deplorable crimes have terrorized entire communities and entire groups of people, and have no place in our American society.

"Despite the fact that one in six hate crimes target the LGBT community, federal law does not currently include any protections for these Americans. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act will correct this injustice and provide the Department of Justice and local law enforcement agencies the resources they need to protect every American from hate crimes.

“Passing this legislation is critical to making America’s promise of equal rights and protections under the law a reality for all of our citizens. This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue; it’s a human rights issue. I urge our lawmakers in both houses of Congress to send a message that hate is not an American value by passing this critical bill, and for President Bush to send the same message by swiftly signing it into law.”