New Hate Crime Laws Urged By AG Holder

According to a recent Associated Press article appearing in The Houston Sun, Attorney General Eric Holder has called for Congress to act to create new hate crime laws in order to stop what he called “violence masquerading as political activism.”  See, Margasak, Larry and Devlin Barrett (AP), “AG Holder Urges New Hate Crimes Law,” The Houston Sun, Vol.26, No.30, 6/16/09, p. 1.  As stated in the article, the AG’s call for Congress to act came as a civil rights coalition said there has been a surge in white supremacist activity since the election of the first African-American president and the economic downturn.  In making his comments, AG Holder cited separate attacks over a two-week period that killed a young soldier in Little Rock, an abortion provider in Wichita and a guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.  The violence, Holder said, “reminds us of the potential threat posed by violent extremists and the tragedy that ensues when reasoned discourse is replaced by armed confrontation.”  As reported in the article, Holder said that to stop such violence, Congress should pass an updated version of hate crimes legislation in order to more effectively prosecute those who commit violent attacks based on gender, disability or sexual orientation.  The growing number of hate crimes against Latinos also shows the need for tougher laws, Holder reportedly said. 

Whether hate crimes and injuries resulting from hate based violence occur in Beaumont, Dallas, Houston or elsewhere, hate crime victims may contact law enforcement and also an attorney or lawyer to determine if a hate crime or personal injury lawsuit may ultimately be appropriate under the particular circumstances and facts of the potential hate crime claim.