October 28, 2009

NJDC Applauds President Obama for Signing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Listed in: Women's Issues, Other Domestic Policy, NJDC News, Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC - Marc R. Stanley, Chairman of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), issued the following statement:

NJDC commends President Barack Obama for signing The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.

At a time when extremist violence can be seen all too frequently, this new law will expand the scope of the federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation, disability, and gender identity.

The American Jewish community has been a leading voice in advocating for expanded hate crimes legislation for years, as these crimes victimize a much larger community, while fostering intolerance and bigotry. The time for this powerful law enforcement and data collection tool has long since arrived, and we thank the President for helping our nation achieve this important milestone.