Mike Levin: “the Kennedy proposal has two major provisions. First, it strengthens current law as it relates to hate crimes based on…”

“the Kennedy proposal has two major provisions. First, it strengthens current law as it relates to hate crimes based on race, religion and nation origin. Second, it broadens the definition of hate crimes to include gender, sexual orientation, and disability. The two major provisions in the Kennedy amendment address specific loopholes in our current federal civil rights statute. Under current law, the federal government is limited in its ability to intervene in case unless it can be proved that the victim was engaged in one of six narrowly defined ``federally protected activities,'' such as enrolling in a public school, participating in a state or local program or activity, applying for or enjoying employment, serving as a juror, traveling in or using interstate commerce, and enjoying certain places of public accommodation. The other unduly severe limitation under current law is this: federal prosecution is limited to those crimes motivated by race, color, religion and national origin and does not allow for federal intervention in crimes motivated by a person's sexual orientation, gender, or disability. The Senate has the ability and the responsibility to pass the Kennedy amendment and send a clear message that America is an all-inclusive nation--one that does not tolerate acts of violence based on bigotry and discrimination.”