President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law two years ago today. The law provides state and local law enforcement with the ability to access federal support for investigating hate crimes, especially those “motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim.”
READ:Â Hate Crimes Bill: Not Just A “Gay Rights” Bill
Obama, just before signing the historic legislation into law, said, “After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we’ve passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are. I promised Judy Shepard, when she saw me in the Oval Office, that this day would come, and I’m glad that she and her husband Dennis could join us for this event. I’m also honored to have the family of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, who fought so hard for this legislation. And Vicki and Patrick, Kara, everybody who’s here, I just want you all to know how proud we are of the work that Ted did to help this day — make this day possible. So — and thank you for joining us here today. (Applause.) So, with that, I’m going to sign this piece of legislation.”
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