August 26, 1999
Hate Crimes Prevention Act
(Washington, D.C.) Mayor Anthony A. Williams today called on Congress to reaffirm our national commitment to the fundamental human dignity of all people by passing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
"The recent brutal killings of James Byrd, Matthew Shepard, Mukesh Patel, Kanu Patel, Naoki Kamijima, Ricky Byrdsong, Won Joon Yoon, Joseph Ileto, serve as chilling reminders that there are still among us individuals and groups who will resort to violence to spread their hateful views," said Mayor Williams. "Even at the close of the millennium, they still cling to the hopeless belief that anger and hate are greater virtues than love and respect. As long as these individuals and groups exist, as long as they labor to subvert our democratic values, we must enact strong laws to protect minorities."
The Mayor believes that a nation that prides itself as the land of freedom and equality cannot tolerate hate crimes that undermine our heritage as a nation.
