Boxer, Feinstein laud hate crimes measure passage
California Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein on Thursday praised final Senate passage of legislation to strengthen the abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.
"Hate crimes are particularly offensive because they are propelled by bias, ignorance and bigotry," Boxer said. "These crimes do not just ... inflict harm on one victim, but they also instill fear in entire communities. And no person -- simply because of who they are -- should ever have to live in fear."
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill in July.
It adds gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity to the list of protected categories under federal hate crimes laws.
The measure also provides additional federal support to state and local authorities investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, according to a news release from Boxer's office.
"It has been more than 10 years since the senseless and brutal death of Matthew Shepard, and I look forward to watching President Obama sign this much-needed legislation into law," Boxer said.
Shepard, a student at the University of Wyoming, was tortured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming in October 1998. He died a few days later because of head injuries. Witnesses stated that Shepard was attacked because he was gay.
Feinstein called the passage a legislative victory that is long overdue.
The legislation passed as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization Conference Report by a vote of 68 to 29.
The act "will go a long way in deterring crimes against victims targeted solely because of who they are -- because of their race, national origin, disability, gender, religion or sexual orientation," Feinstein said.
"According to the FBI, hate crimes occur at a rate of roughly one for every single hour of every day in the United States. The victims are innocent people who are walking to work, driving home at night, or even sitting in school classrooms.
"Hate crimes have a common theme they leave people terrified, hurt, or worse, dead, and they rip communities apart. And it's time that the law and punishment reflect that. I am proud that we are one step closer today to giving law enforcement all of the resources they need to investigate, solve, prosecute and punish these horrific crimes."
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High praise to State Senators Boxer and Feinstein in regards to the passage of the hate crime legislation. The governor of the great state of CA is not concerned with hate crimes? How sad.