Clergy Against Hate
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Matt Weinberg is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. He is a graduate of Cornell. |
The Religious Action Center, in coalition with several civil rights and religious organizations, has recently launched an on-line clergy letter to the Senate in favor of improved Hate Crimes Legislation. The letter, found on www.clergyagainsthate.org, is an exciting opportunity for progressive clergy members to remind the Senate that there is a diverse and outspoken group of faith leaders who preach acceptance, kindness, and love.
On May 3, the House of Representatives passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 by a bipartisan vote of 237-180. The battle over this legislation has already begun in the Senate, and it is more important than ever that progressive religious leaders speak out in support. Opponents of the bill are spreading misinformation about the bill, claiming that it will be used to punish preachers who sermonize against homosexuality.
Currently, the federal government can only aid local authorities in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes when the crime was carried out because of a bias against the victim’s race, religion, or national origin, and while he was involved in a federally protected activity, such as voting or sitting on a jury. The Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 1105) would add the classes of real or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability to the types of crimes for which the federal government can lend assistance, and would remove the overly restrictive “federal activity” provision altogether.
This bill would not take jurisdiction over hate crimes away from the states. It has provisions which protect freedom of speech, and can only be used in crimes that result in bodily injury. It would, however, provide an absolutely necessary backstop for those violent hate crimes which fall through the cracks because of a local police department that is either unwilling, or unable (due to lack of funds), to prosecute.
For more information on the Matthew Shepard LLEHCPA, please visit the RAC’s Legislative Action Center, or the issue page for the Human Rights Campaign.