The Anti-Defamation League Director for the Plains States AlanPotash, has just declared war against our First Amendment right tofreedom of speech. Potash made the following statement, which waspublished in the May 26 edition of The Omaha World Herald.
“Dangersof hate,” was right to point out that freedom of speech does not extendto racist groups, nor give their supporters the right to threaten andintimidate others or commit acts of violence.
But whenbigots step over the line, it is vital that law enforcement and thecourts have the proper tools to respond effectively.
Thisis why Congress should move expeditiously to approve the Local LawEnforcement Hate Crimes Prevent Act – legislation that would addprotection for all citizens from violent acts of intolerance.
The bill, which was approved in the House lastmonth, would equip local law enforcement officials with tools, trainingand resources to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated crimes.
Likeacts of terrorism, hate crimes can hurt more than the individualvictim. They can instill fear and insecurity within an entirecommunity.”
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act recentlypassed the Congress and is now on its way to the Senate, where it islikely to pass and signed by President Obama. The Anti-DefamationLeague has been at the forefront of promoting hate crimelegislation, and openly advocates for their model anti-hate law. In 1988 the ADL gave out an award to law student Joseph Ribikofffor writing a proposed hate crime bill that would criminalize hatespeech against gays and minorities.