NBJC Welcomes Passage of Landmark Federal Hate Crimes Bill
23 Oct 09 12:00 AM CDT
NBJC Welcomes Passage of
Landmark Federal Hate Crimes Bill
Obama has pledged to sign bill into law
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) applauds the Senate’s 68-29 passage of a landmark hate crimes bill that would make it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. This legislation now goes to President Obama, who has pledged to sign it into law.
“The Senate’s decision to pass this bill sends a clear message that the civil rights of every American are worth protecting and defending,” said Sharon J. Lettman, NBJC Executive Director. “No one should have to live their life in fear of violence simply for living their life openly.”
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It expands the definition of federal hate crimes while streamlining the process of federal prosecution of bias-based crimes.
About 77,000 hate-crime incidents were reported by the FBI between 1998 and 2007, or "nearly one hate crime for every hour of every day over the span of a decade," reported Attorney General Eric Holder to the Senate Judiciary Committee in June.
The National Black Justice Coalition (www.NBJC.org) is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Our mission is to end racism and homophobia. NBJC envisions a world where all people are fully empowered to participate safely, openly and honestly in family, faith and community, regardless of race, gender-identity, or sexual orientation.
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