teech
02-26-2007, 06:54 PM
In Detroit last week, 72-year-old Andrew Anthos was riding on a city bus and was asked by a fellow passenger if he was gay. The passenger then followed Mr. Anthos off the bus and attacked him with a metal pipe. Mr. Anthos died from his injuries Friday night and according to media reports, police are continuing the investigation without any solid leads.
Under the current federal hate crimes statute, federal authorities have no jurisdiction to assist in this investigation, even if local authorities were to request that assistance. It’s past time for a comprehensive federal hate crimes bill and we cannot stand by and let one more person go unprotected.
Take action right now and urge your Representative to become an original cosponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. ([Only registered and activated users can see links])
Our legislators must hear from us on this issue quickly as the right-wing extremist group The American Family Association (AFA) recently sent an email to their membership urging them to contact their Representatives to oppose any hate crimes legislation. In their e-mail, they claimed that if this legislation passes:
"Polygamy will be legalized."
"Employers will be forced to hire homosexuals."
"Landlords will be forced to rent to homosexuals."It is appalling to think that in the face of such recent brutal violence, any group would actively call for the defeat of hate crimes legislation. Yet the AFA continues promoting their hate-filled rhetoric aiming to shut down progress that would help deter violent attacks on people because of who they are.
We must make our voices heard today. This legislation is essential to ensuring that random acts of violence based on hatred can be responded to appropriately, and it must be passed.
Please, take action right now ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) -- and ask as many people as you can to do the same.
Under the current federal hate crimes statute, federal authorities have no jurisdiction to assist in this investigation, even if local authorities were to request that assistance. It’s past time for a comprehensive federal hate crimes bill and we cannot stand by and let one more person go unprotected.
Take action right now and urge your Representative to become an original cosponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. ([Only registered and activated users can see links])
Our legislators must hear from us on this issue quickly as the right-wing extremist group The American Family Association (AFA) recently sent an email to their membership urging them to contact their Representatives to oppose any hate crimes legislation. In their e-mail, they claimed that if this legislation passes:
"Polygamy will be legalized."
"Employers will be forced to hire homosexuals."
"Landlords will be forced to rent to homosexuals."It is appalling to think that in the face of such recent brutal violence, any group would actively call for the defeat of hate crimes legislation. Yet the AFA continues promoting their hate-filled rhetoric aiming to shut down progress that would help deter violent attacks on people because of who they are.
We must make our voices heard today. This legislation is essential to ensuring that random acts of violence based on hatred can be responded to appropriately, and it must be passed.
Please, take action right now ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) -- and ask as many people as you can to do the same.