Posted by ACTIVE_AZN on October 12, 2000 at 11:01:39:
-----Original Message-----
From: Organization of Chinese Americans
To: Organization of Chinese Americans
Sent: 10/11/00 9:58 AM
Subject: HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION EXCLUDED FROM BILL
For Immediate Release
October 11, 2000
Contact: Daphne Kwok 202-223-5500
OCA CONDEMNS EXCLUSION OF HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION
FROM AUTHORIZATION BILL
Washington, DC - The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA),
a national nonprofit civil rights and education organization,
condemns the removal of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA)
from the Department of Defense Authorization bill on October 5,
2000. The HCPA seeks to expand federal protection for hate
crimes to cover gender, disability and sexual orientation. It will
also strengthen the federal government's authority to investigate
and prosecute hate crimes.
"We are dumbfounded that the HCPA was approved in the Senate
57 to 42 and in the House 232-192 and yet will not go to the
President's desk for signature because of political maneuvering,"
said George M. Ong, OCA National President. "We are appalled
that the lives and rights of Congress' constituents are to be the
grand losers."
"How many more people who are vicitims of crimes due to their
gender, disability, or sexual orientation are there going to have to
be before this country punishes these hideous crimes for what
they really are," stated Daphne Kwok, OCA Executive Director.
An Internet action center has been set up at
www.UnitedAgainstHate.org. From the action center, web users
can email the President and members of Congress and urge
them to pass hate crimes legislation in the last few days of this
Congressional session. OCA encourages all people to visit the
website and voice their feelings on the issue.
OCA also encourages people to call the White House at
202-456-1414 or fax them at 202-456-2461 and tell the President
that when negotiating with the Republican Congressional
leadership, failing to pass meaningful hate crimes legislation
is simply unacceptable.
The following Congressional leaders played a large part in having
the hate crimes legislation stripped from the Department of
Defense Authorization bill:
Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) 202-224-3135
Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) 202-225-0600
Senator John Warner (R-VA) 202-224-2023
The following members of Congress have shown strong support
for the Hate Crimes legislation:
Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) 202-224-5556
Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) 202-225-0100
Senator Gorton Smith (R-OR) 202-224-3753
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) 202-224-4543
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) 202-224-4254
For more information, visit www.UnitedAgainstHate.org.
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