OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Edwards Statement on President Bush's Threat to Veto Hate Crimes Legislation

Statement

Date: Aug. 7, 2007
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Issues: Criminal Justice


Edwards Statement on President Bush's Threat to Veto Hate Crimes Legislation

Senator John Edwards released the following statement in response to President Bush's threat to veto pending federal hate crime legislation.

"Every American is entitled to live in dignity without fear of violence. No community should feel that they can be targeted with impunity. But until law enforcement has the tools to aggressively investigate and prosecute all hate crimes, some Americans will doubt that the government is on their side. President Bush's threat to veto hate crime legislation sends just that message.

"With 25 hate crimes committed every day by the FBI's count - one every hour - it is embarrassing that the White House says stronger law enforcement tools are ‘unnecessary'. Nine years after the heinous murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., I know these tools are more necessary than ever. As president, I will sign the hate crimes law and make sure law enforcement has all the resources it needs to protect every community in America."


Source
arrow_upward