The National Urban League applauds the Senate's passage of the Matthew Sheppard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a long-overdue measure that takes us closer to full civil rights protection for all Americans.
This new legislation provides much-needed resources to help state and local law enforcement agencies prevent and prosecute hate crimes and extends the protection of current federal hate crime law to persons targeted because of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity disability. The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed this measure 68-29; the House of Representatives approved the bill earlier this month.
It is a sad fact that hate crimes are on the rise in the United States and must be confronted whenever and wherever they occur. As Dr. Martin Luther King reminded us, the good people must not remain silent.
The National Urban League commends the U.S. Congress for using its voice and votes to give law enforcement additional tools to prevent and combat hate crimes. We look forward to President Obama signing this important legislation into law as soon as possible.
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