Jon L. Christensen: “I rise in support of H.R. 1592, the Local law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act and to oppose attempts to weaken…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1592, the Local law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act and to oppose attempts to weaken the bill by removing certain groups from its protection. Mr. Speaker, no one knows better than a member of the African-American community in this country that hate crimes exist and have been an ugly part of this country's history. And we also know that in the face of all of the apologies offered and passed for slavery and lynching, if we cannot pass this bill today they are but empty words on a piece of worthless paper. It is time for us to demand through this vote that this country draw the line with a zero-tolerance policy for crimes based on any characteristic of the victim. This critically needed legislation will provide local police and sheriff's departments with vital Federal resources to address hate crimes; which are crimes against either persons or property where the offender intentionally selects the victim because of their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.”