IN HIS OWN WORDS

Senators Kennedy and Smith Introduce Hate Crimes Bill

Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) re-introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the enforcement and prosecution of hate crimes based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. "Hate crimes are basically acts of domestic terrorism," Senator Kennedy said, "they have an impact far greater than the impact on the individual victim. They're crimes against entire communities, against the whole nation, and against the fundamental ideals on which America was founded."