Jerry Nadler: “Mr. Speaker, this bill deals with violent crimes committed against victims who are singled out solely because someone…”

“Mr. Speaker, this bill deals with violent crimes committed against victims who are singled out solely because someone doesn't like who they are. Violent attacks because of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability often cause serious injury or death. They are more serious than a normal assault because they target not just an individual, but an entire group. They spread terror to all members of the group and often deter them from exercising their constitutional rights, sometimes for simply walking down the wrong street. The only question for Members is whether they believe that singling out a person for a crime of violence because of his or her race or religion or because any other trait is sufficiently heinous to merit strong punishment. For many years, Mr. Speaker, Congress debated what were known as the Federal lynching laws. They were designed to deal with the widespread practice of lynching primarily African Americans. There was staunch resistance to those laws here in Congress. For three decades, they did not pass while thousands were lynched. We heard many of the same arguments then that we are hearing today. That was not a proud period in our Nation's history. Today, we can do the right thing. I hope we can agree to do so.”