http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Landmark_hate_crimes_legislation_passe_0914.htmlIn an unexpected 223-199 vote, the House of Representatives passed sweeping hate crimes legislation Wednesday, including protections for minorities and gays who are the subject of hate crimes.
The bill, authored by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), was a rider on another bill -- the Child Safety Act. Thirty moderate Republicans joined the Democratic caucus in supporting the amendment; the bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.
Conyers was elated about the measure's passage.
"The passage of this legislation is an historic event that has its basis in the anti-lynching efforts of the 1930's," the Michigan Democrat told RAW STORY. "This has truly been a bipartisan effort that was year in the making."
Conyers said it was the first criminal law-based civil rights legislation to pass in decades.
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