Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Get E-News from The Advocates
  

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Robin Phillips                                                                                        Rosalyn Park
Executive Director                                                                                  Research Director
(w) 612-341-3302, ext. 109                                                                      (w) 612-341-3302 ext. 106
rphillips@advrights.org                                                                            rpark@advrights.org
 
 
Senate Passes Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, but Includes Death Penalty Amendment
 
Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN (July 22, 2009) – The U.S. Senate recently passed S. 909, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The Act amends the Department of Defense Authorization bill (S. 1390) and takes a tougher stance on hate crimes that include sexual orientation and other motivating factors. Unfortunately, the bill also contains an amendment that makes hate crime offenders eligible for the death penalty. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) introduced this change, among others, in an attempt to kill the legislation. The bill will soon head to conference, and the final vote on the committee’s bill will likely be in September.
 
S. 909 would allow for the federal government to review hate crimes cases. The federal government would also be permitted to intervene in state or local cases where it is determined that courts are not doing enough to protect the rights of hate crime victims. Such neglect at the state level is not rare, as numerous hate crimes have gone lightly or even unpunished because of authorities’ insufficient actions.
 
Federal supervision would help protect victims. But as the bill stands, the increased federal power may also bring the death penalty to Minnesota. While Minnesota does not have a state death penalty, locally-committed hate crimes could ultimately end up before the federal courts. If this happens, the crimes could be punishable by death. Executing human beings conflicts with Minnesotans’ values. Since 1911, Minnesotans have rejected capital punishment since the abolition of the death penalty in 1911; the last two efforts to reinstate the death penalty in Minnesota were soundly defeated.
 
The Advocates for Human Rights opposes the death penalty amendment in the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and it has urged Minnesota’s representatives to remove the amendment from the bill.
                                                                                                   
 
The Advocates for Human Rights is a non-governmental, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of internationally recognized human rights. With the help of over 600 volunteers, The Advocates investigates and exposes human rights violations; represents immigrants and refugees in our community who are victims of human rights abuses, trains and assists groups that protect human rights; and works through education and advocacy in Minnesota to engage the public, policy makers and children about human rights and cultural understanding. The Advocates for Human Rights holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations.