ACLU: Hate Crimes Provision Stripped from National Defense Authorization Act

[marmar]

Hate Crimes Provision Stripped from National Defense Authorization Act (12/6/2007)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: [phone], [e-mail]

Washington, DC – The ACLU today expressed its disappointment that Congress has stripped from the National Defense Authorization Act a provision that would have extended federal civil rights protections to individuals targeted for violent crimes based on their gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. The Matthew Shepard Amendment would allow federal law enforcement officials to step in to prosecute hate crimes where local law enforcement can not, or will not.

The following can be attributed to Christopher E. Anders, senior legislative counsel for the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:

"The Matthew Shepard Amendment represents ten years of hard work on the part of the civil rights community, and this is the closest we’ve come to having much-needed hate crimes language reach the president’s desk. Of course we’re frustrated to come so far, only to see the measure stripped out of the final bill. Whether as an amendment or a stand-alone bill, this should be an easy measure for Congress to pass, and we see no basis for a presidential veto. In addition to enjoying bipartisan support, the Matthew Shepard Amendment contains important protections for free speech and free association, as well as civil rights."

http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/speech/33023prs20071206.html

[Red Zelda]

1. Hey, this is the usa

we're all about hate crimes.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. And this would have been done by the Democrats, correct?

The majority party in both houses?

[Horse with no Name]

3. well to be fair

they probably received concessions from the republicans for doing it....something like not laughing at them or something.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. GOP support in not persuing impeachment, perhaps? n/t

[magellan]

4. Why do they insist on sticking this in the damn war funding bill

...when they KNOW progressive Dems won't approve it because of that? Why not a stand-alone bill?