Senate will help protect victims of hate crimes Washington, DC: September 27, 2007 –- This morning the Senate passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (LLEHCPA). The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest and largest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, worked with a national coalition of over 200 civil rights, faith-based, law enforcement, and women’s groups working to ensure passage of this bill. “Today the Senate sends a clear message that crimes motivated by hate will not be tolerated in America, and that such offenses will be prosecuted with vigor. As a nation dedicated to the ideals of equality and mutual understanding, we have a special responsibility to combat bigotry that takes the form of violence,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about the bill, which passed with bipartisan support. LLEHCPA will allow the federal government to assist states and local law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. Doing so will make communities safer for people of different backgrounds. The law extends hate crime legislation to those states where current laws are inadequate. “We are encouraged that the Senate chose to pass this bill which will help protect victims of hate crimes. Sikh Americans saw a surge in crimes committed against them after the September 11 attacks on our country,” said SALDEF Chairman Manjit Singh. “Unfortunately, Sikh Americans are still targets of acts of hate like the recent attacks on two elderly Sikh American men in Maryland. We are disappointed President Bush has threatened to veto this important legislation which reaffirms the equality of all Americans.” The Senate Bill, S. 1105, sponsored by Senators Kennedy (D-MA) and Smith (R-OR), passed with the support of every Senate Democrat and Republican Senators Collins (ME), Coleman (MN), Gregg (NH), Lugar (IN), Smith (OR), Snowe (WA), Specter (PA), Voinovich (OH), and Warner (VA). The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed similar legislation, H.R. 1592, earlier this year. SALDEF commends the Sikh American community for encouraging their Senators to vote for this important legislation and Sikh American youth for encouraging their granthis to join other religious leaders in supporting the legislation. Read more about the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act: SALDEF Welcomes Congressional Legislation on Hate Crimes
