Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 16, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke urges support for Clinton's Hate Crimes Prevention Act

OLYMPIA—Joining the growing number of calls for support for anti-hate crime legislation, Gov. Gary Locke today voiced his support for President Clinton's Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

"I urge Congress to pass this legislation before it adjourns, or as soon as possible in the next Congress to convene in January," Locke said. "I commend Sen. Patty Murray and Congressmen Norm Dicks, Jim McDermott and Adam Smith for their work in co-sponsoring the bill, and I urge our other congressional delegates to do the same."

Locke said the growing problem of harassment crimes points to a need to make schools safe for all students.

"Creating a safe environment for all students in our school system is a necessary step toward tolerance and the eradication of hate crimes," Locke said.

The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would make it a federal crime to intentionally injure anyone because of the victim's race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, where the crime was related to interstate commerce.

It resembles Washington state law against malicious harassment, which makes it a felony to maliciously and intentionally cause physical injury or property damage to anyone for the reasons listed above. Washington's law, passed by the state legislature in 1993, also applies to threats, as long as they appear credible.

The standard sentence for malicious harassment is three to nine months for a first offense, and could be up to five years. An individual also could be convicted and sentenced for any other crime, such as assault, that was committed in the course of malicious harassment.

In Washington, local law enforcement agencies reported 192 incidents involving hate crimes, 46 of which were motivated by sexual orientation of the victim, in 1997.

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