Van Hollen Statement On Hate Crimes Legislation

Statement

Van Hollen Statement On Hate Crimes Legislation

Today, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Assistant to the Speaker, issued the following statement on House passage of the hate crimes prevention measure:

"Our nation's founding principles guarantee individual freedom and liberty. We risk these rights when hateful discrimination and violence are allowed to flourish. Hate crimes prevention legislation gives law enforcement the tools they need to protect our liberties and ensure that no American is assaulted because of who they are.

"We have existing federal hate crimes laws to assist local law enforcement in cases of violent crimes motivated by a victim's race, color, religion, or national origin. With this legislation, we expand protections to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

Hate crimes devastate individuals and families and terrorize communities. By giving law enforcement resources to combat and prosecute the thousands of hate crimes that occur in our country each year, we continue to defend those freedoms that define America's character."

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