Lets Move Forward To Put Hate Crime Laws On The Books

Toll Free Call To Stop Hate Crimes

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1913). Right-wing committee members tried to tack on many harmful amendments but all were defeated.

Now, in order to ensure speedy success in the full House, your representative needs to hear from you. Our coalition has provided a toll-free number to make it extra-easy for activists to call their reps and urge them to SUPPORT H.R. 1913.

Call right now, toll-free, and urge YOUR U.S. representative to vote YES on the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

866-346-4611

The toll-free number will expire on Wednesday, so make sure to call today and let others know about the number too as soon as you can.

The bill expands the coverage of existing hate crime laws to include not only victims of crime based on race, color, religion and national origin, but also bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. And it gives the DOJ the authority to prosecute hate crimes in states where current law or local actions are inadequate

We've been working hard to get this bill passed for years, and if we pass it this year, President Obama will sign it.

The Religious Right has built a campaign against this legislation based on an outright lie: that the bill would somehow criminalize religious speech. In fact, this bill is about preventing and punishing only violent acts that result in bodily harm and has nothing to do with any expression not specifically related to a violent act -- there's even a provision in the bill stating this explicitly.

We won't let the Right get away with its divisive lies and we won't let our fellow Americans go unprotected against bias-based violence.

Call now, toll-free, and tell your representative to vote YES on H.R. 1913.

866-346-4611

Thank you.

- Your Allies at People For the American Way

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart!