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Urge the Florida Senate to Pass Hate Crime Protection for Homeless People
  1. Signatures
    106 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. The FL State Senate
  2. Created By
    National Coalition for the Homeless
About this Petition Petition Letter
Why This Is Important

On April 20, 2010 the Florida House of Representatives voted 80-28 on a bill (HB 11) that would increase the punishment for a crime committed out of prejudice against a homeless person by one degree.  In a state where over the last 11 years more than 170 biased motivated attacks on the homeless have been documented, this new legislation would add homeless people to existing hate crime laws that deter and punish people taking advantage of the most vulnerable segment of our population.  Soon, the Senate will vote on the bills counterpart, SB 506.

Over the last 11 years the National Coalition for the Homeless has documented nearly 1000 acts of bias motivated violence against homeless people.  Of those attacks, 281 were killed.  In other words, 1 in 4 attacks on the homeless end in death.  How does this compare to other protected populations?  Between 1999 and 2009 101 documented deaths occurred among all groups protected under federal hate crime laws.  The number of bias motivated deaths among homeless people alone nearly triples what the federal laws currently protect.  Maryland, Washington, DC, Maine, and Alaska have implemented some form of hate crime protection for their homeless populations and Florida may been next.

Florida is no stranger to attacks against the homeless.  No other state has had as many documented incidents of violence against the homeless.  Currently, Florida hate crime laws protect a victim's race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, mental or physical disability or advanced age.  Join us in petitioning the Florida Senate to add homelessness to its protected classes.

 

 

Recent Signatures

Protect Homeless People From Hate Crimes

Dear Florida Senate,

Since 1999 nearly one thousand bias motivated attacks against the homeless have been documented resulting in 281 homeless people losing their life. That means that over 1 in 4 hate crimes against the homeless end in death. Out of fear, frustration, and confusion, many more attacks go unreported. Over the same time period, Florida has had more bias motivated attacks (174) against the homeless than any other state. Soon we will be able to protect our neighbors, friends and family from violence and death.

On April 20, 2010 the Florida House of Representatives passed HB 11 adding homelessness to its current hate crimes legislation that protects a victim's race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, mental or physical disability or advanced age by deterring and punishing bias motivated violence more severely.

I urgently call on you to ensure that Florida protect its most vulnerable citizens from further violence and death. By voting yes to pass SB 506, you will save the lives and preserve the wellbeing of countless Floridians and work towards a more civil and safe society for all Florida residents.

[Your name]