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Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

Floor Speech

Date: April 29, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Criminal Justice


LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT OF 2009 -- (House of Representatives - April 29, 2009)

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Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, Matthew Shepard died in a hospital less than 5 minutes from my home in Fort Collins, Colorado. The depth of hate that drives such an act of violence leaves all of those it touches bereft in the knowledge that such ugliness can exist on this Earth.

Angie Zapata was an 18-year-old transgender woman who was brutally murdered in Greeley, Colorado this past July. It took a jury just 2 hours to convict Angie's killer under Colorado's first application of the hate crimes statute earlier this month.

This bill does not punish speech, thoughts, words or beliefs. It does not even punish hate speech. It punishes actions. It provides State and local authorities with Federal assistance in investigating and in prosecuting hate crimes. In this country, 45 States already have hate crimes legislation on the books. Many of these statutes are more robust than the current Federal law.

Matthew Shepard and Angie Zapata were two victims of hate crimes in my district. I have a duty to their memories that I take seriously.

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