Stop Hate Crimes Against the Homeless

Why This Is Important

It's a cruel fact: when you live without a home, you are more vulnerable to violence on the streets. The Senate Judiciary is scheduled to vote on legislation that would add homeless people to the federal hate crimes statistics statue.

This bill is timely; as homelessness has increased over the past decade, so haven't the number of brutal, violent attacks against the homeless. From 2002 to 2005, hate crimes against the homeless increased 300%. Fatal attacks rose by 67%. And the latest study by the National Coalition for the Homeless found that this number has increased even more - 65% - since 2005.

But it's important to remember that hate crimes cannot be measured solely in terms of physical injury, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, they also "leave a special emotional and psychological mark on victims and their communities, leaving them feeling isolated, vulnerable, and unprotected by the law."

Act today! Call on Senators on the Judiciary Committee urging them to vote in support of S. 1765. Judiciary Committee Senators include: Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick J. Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Herb Kohl (D-WI), and Russ D. Feingold (D-WI).

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