Tina Smith: “I rise today speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate…”

“I rise today speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country. Last summer, a young man and two of his gay friends were on their way to a bar. A 38-year-old male confronted one of the gay men and began to harass him. When the victim's friend tried to intervene, the assailant struck him in the head multiple times with a baseball bat believing that he was also gay. He was treated for skull fractures, cranial bleeding, and a blood clot in the brain. The Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. By passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.”