SALDEF Encourages Community Action on Hate Crime Prevention Washington D.C. – June 9, 2007: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) strongly urges all Sikh Religious Leaders to sign on to an interfaith letter in support of The Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA) (Senate bill number S. 1105). In the previous Congress, this bill enjoyed broad bi-partisan and law enforcement support from across the nation. The interfaith letter, available online here, urges United States Senators to co-sponsor and pass ground breaking hate crimes legislation which will provide local governments with necessary resources to serve their communities. Bias crimes are increasingly a cause for concern within the Sikh American community in a pre- and post-9/11 context. The FBI Hate Crime Report, although voluntary, has documented over 115,000 hate crimes since 1991. In 2005, 7,183 hate crimes were reported, of which, 17.1 percent were perpetrated against individuals of faith and 14.2 percent against ethnic minorities. Current law authorizes federal involvement only in those cases in which the victim was targeted because of race, color, religion, or national origin. Unfortunately, some local jurisdictions neither have the resources nor will to investigate and prosecute assailants alleged to have committed a hate crime. Additionally, current law does not protect victims on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. LLEHCPA will allow the federal government to assist states and local law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes when the local agencies request such support. Doing so will make our nation safer for all Americans and allow smaller municipalities to procure additional resources to effectively investigate and prosecute bias crimes. The law also extends serious hate crime legislation to those states where current laws are inadequate. “This legislation represents a significant step in ensuring those who violate someone’s civil rights will be brought to justice,” said Kavneet Singh, Managing Director of SALDEF. “Our elected officials must recognize the need for stronger and more effective laws against hate crimes. These crimes are not just against the person, but against the entire community he or she represents.” The legislation has a broad range of support of over 200 civil rights, advocacy and law enforcement organizations including; the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Anti-Defamation League, Human Rights Campaign, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, among many others. To sign the letter, go here. Click on “Sign the letter” and fill out the appropriate contact information. Indicate that you heard about the letter through SALDEF. By signing this letter you join religious leaders of a multitude of faiths from across America, SALDEF, and its coalition partners in denouncing hate crimes. For more information on SALDEF’s past legislative and hate crimes initiatives, please see below: SALDEF meets with FBI Director Robert Mueller SALDEF Congratulates House for Passing Hate Crime Bill Partnerships with U.S. Muslim, Sikh Leaders Boost Law Enforcement SALDEF Welcomes Congressional Legislation on Hate Crimes
