Hate Crimes Legislation 2009

Demand the removal of the death penalty amendment from federal hate crimes legislation now

Your commitment to justice has been heard loud and clear over the past months and years. The LGBT community and straight allies will not sit in silence in the face of injustice — and that includes a hate crimes bill that would expand the death penalty. Tell your senators and representatives to push for the removal of the death penalty amendment from the hate crimes bill when it goes to conference committee. Thank you for taking action with the Task Force Action Fund.

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Dear (recipient name),

As your constituent and a supporter of comprehensive hate crimes legislation, I am pleased about the Senate's inclusion of the hate crimes bill as part of the Department of Defense authorization bill as well as its passage in the House. The hate crimes bill is a long-overdue measure that will finally secure protections for those who are victims of heinous attacks simply because of who they are. However, I am very disappointed that the death penalty was added to the legislation on the Senate floor.

Everyone, everywhere, should be protected from vicious acts of hate and violence. It's unthinkable that in this day and age, only 12 states have hate crimes laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity. But it is an outrage that protection and justice for the LGBT community is being pushed, hand in hand, with an amendment that will expand the death penalty.

The death penalty is profoundly inhumane and unjust. It does not -- and will not -- protect the LGBT community from hate-based violence.

It is not a deterrent. It is disproportionately used against poor people and people of color. And there are many well-documented stories of people who have been released from death row when evidence was re-examined in their case or when new evidence came to light. The death penalty is not justice.

I am asking you to do the right thing -- push for the removal of the death penalty amendment as the Department of Defense authorization bill goes to conference committee.

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