NCJW Urges President to Sign Hate Crimes Legislation

October 1, 2007, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today urged President Bush to sign the Defense Department authorization bill that includes the Matthew Shepard Act, which extends protection under federal hate crimes legislation to victims of violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, and disability. NCJW President Phyllis Snyder released the following statement:

"NCJW is extremely gratified that the Senate has passed the Matthew Shepard Act, also known as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, as an amendment to the Defense Department authorization bill. Now President Bush must reverse his threat to veto this important new legislation. The president should join the Congress and the majority of the American people in putting the force of law behind the condemnation of all crimes of hate.

"NCJW is proud to have played a leading role in the ten-year battle to get both houses of Congress to pass such a bill, now named in memory of the young Wyoming man brutally murdered in 1998 for being gay. The president can set an international example for decency and human rights by supporting these improvements to federal hate crimes law. We urge him to sign the bill and send the message that our country does not tolerate such violence."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.

Contact:
Debbie Stillman
202 296 2588 x2; debbie@ncjwdc.org