Lynn C. Woolsey: “every day at least four hate crimes are reported in the United States, at least four. But even worse are the crimes that…”

“every day at least four hate crimes are reported in the United States, at least four. But even worse are the crimes that are not reported. They are not reported out of fear of retaliation or feeling that law enforcement just will not follow through. That is why we need tough Federal hate crime language to protect all Americans, and we need to include it in the Department of Defense authorization bill. If we do that, then the lack of response will change because no one in this country should live in fear, even for one day, because of his or her ethnic background, his or her religious affiliation, gender, disability, or sexual preference. Mr. Speaker, that is why it is so important to pass meaningful hate crimes legislation and pass it now, today; and today we can send a message to all Americans that hateful behavior is wrong and will not be tolerated any longer. It is clear that existing Federal law is inadequate to vigorously fight and prosecute hate crimes.”