James Moran said "history has taught us that unchecked ignorance, intolerance and hatred always yields violence. The fact that we have not yet learned this lesson was made strikingly clear this week with the brutal beating and murder of Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming college student. His killers chose Matthew only because he was gay. Mr. Speaker, incidences of violent crime are in fact decreasing in the United States, yet FBI statistics show that this is not so for crimes based on sexual orientation. The time has come to recognize these heinous acts for what they are. They are hate crimes. The time has come to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We should do it today by unanimous consent. It is tragic that yet another life has been lost to ignorance and intolerance. How many more will be lost by our silence?" @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordOctober 14, 1998

history has taught us that unchecked ignorance, intolerance and hatred always yields violence. The fact that we have not yet learned this lesson was made strikingly clear this week with the brutal beating and murder of Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming college student. His killers chose Matthew only because he was gay. Mr. Speaker, incidences of violent crime are in fact decreasing in the United States, yet FBI statistics show that this is not so for crimes based on sexual orientation. The time has come to recognize these heinous acts for what they are. They are hate crimes. The time has come to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We should do it today by unanimous consent. It is tragic that yet another life has been lost to ignorance and intolerance. How many more will be lost by our silence?

Said by

James Moran

Virginia

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Addressing the need for the Hate Crimes Prevention Act following the murder of Matthew Shepard.

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