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*AnimalSpirit ~ Diana* Martz
Shelbyville, IN
- Sent letter to Dan Burton , Dick Lugar , Evan Bayh , Brent Waltz , David Frizzell , Andre Carson and Mary Sullivan
- Jul 17, 2009
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Jamie Lee
Martinez, CA
- Sent letter to Ellen Tauscher , Dianne Feinstein , Barbara Boxer , George Miller , Hon. Tom Torlakson , Mark DeSaulnier and Hon. Nancy Skinner
- Jun 25, 2009
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Aleasha Casaretto
Collyeville, TX
- Sent letter to Collin Peterson , Ken Marchant , Mike Burgess , Kay Hutchison , Kelly Hancock , Todd Smith , Paula Hightower Pierson , Vicki Truitt and John Cornyn
- Jun 13, 2009
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Simona Minopoli
Round Lake Beach, IL
- Sent letter to Melissa Bean , Mark Kirk , Dick Durbin , Terry Link , Michael Bond , Kathleen Ryg , Sandy Cole and Mark Beaubien
- Jun 02, 2009
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Sarah Perez
Torrance, CA
- Sent letter to Jane Harman , Dianne Feinstein , Barbara Boxer , Jenny Oropeza , Ted Lieu and Laura Richardson
- Jun 01, 2009
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shirley ross
roseville, CA
- Signed letter
- May 28, 2009
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Carrie Rimes
Cabot, AR
- Sent letter to Marion Berry , Vic Snyder , Blanche Lincoln , Mark Pryor , Eddie Hawkins , John Capps and Bobby Glover
- May 28, 2009
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Julia Tawyea'
Lake Ariel, PA
- Sent letter to Chris Carney , Arlen Specter , Bob Casey , Lisa Baker , Michael Peifer , Ken Smith , Edward Staback and Robert Mellow
- May 26, 2009
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Cheree M.
Dade, FL
- Sent letter to Jeff Miller , Mel Martinez , Bill Nelson , Don Gaetz , Durell Peaden , Dave Murzin and Clay Ford
- May 26, 2009
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virginia El Reda
Miami, FL
- Sent letter to Lincoln Diaz-Balart , Mel Martinez , Bill Nelson , J. Villalobos , Alex Diaz de la Portilla , Juan-Carlos Planas and Anitere Flores
- May 25, 2009
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Write Your Senators: Protect All People from Hate Crimes
Take Action Now: Write your senators and urge their support for the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909) to fight hate crimes and provide safety and security to all people.
Talking Points
On Wednesday, April 29, the House of Representatives passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA), acknowledging the need for significant improvements to our current hate crimes laws. The Obama administration as well as over 300 civil rights, human rights, religious, and law enforcement organizations, have come out in support of the bill. The Senate version, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909) is currently under consideration by the Judiciary Committee and senators need to hear from their constituents.
Talking Points
More than 10 years ago, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was brutally murdered in an anti-gay attack. Since then, thousands of others have been targeted and attacked because of who they are. S. 909 expands the coverage of existing hate crime laws to include not only victims of crimes based on race, color, religion, and national origin, but also bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act also gives the federal government jurisdiction in prosecuting hate crimes in states where current law or local law enforcement action are inadequate. This increased protection will help ethnic and/or racial groups that have become targets of hate crimes due to ignorant scapegoating. For example, since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Arab-American community has been subject to numerous bias-motivated hate crimes. And, according to the most recent FBI data, crimes against Latinos increased for the fourth year in a row in 2007. Incidents similar to these could be more effectively investigated and prosecuted if S. 909 is passed.
Hate crimes cut across all of our communities and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act is needed to ensure that all people have the right to be safe and free from physical harm and intimidation. This bill sends a clear message across the country that Americans do not have to live in fear.
Write your senators and urge support of S. 909 to fight hate crimes and provide safety and security for all people.
Petition Text
Protect All People From Hate Crimes
Dear Representative
[Your name]
