Congressman Jackson greets author/legal expert Angela Jordan Davis
Nov. 16, 2007
Jackson and Davis, author of Arbitrary Justice: The Power of the American Prosecutor, were among several guests of syndicated radio host Tom Joyner during a broadcast from Washington, DC to discuss pending hate crimes legislation, and what the federal government can do to curb the incidence of hate crimes.
Jackson said, "The federal government had the power to reach in to a state and return an escaped slave to a slave state. It has the power to reach in to a state and fight hate crimes, and it should.
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Congressman Jackson was a co-sponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in May and awaits final action. The bill defined a hate crime as a violent act causing death or bodily injury because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability of the victim. The bill also gave the U.S. Attorney General the power to help state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies deal with hate crimes.
"This means we would have to make sure that our local leaders are clear about their positions on hate crimes, as well as support and encourage local law enforcement agencies to get federal support to fight hate crimes,
" said Jackson. "We need to be doing that NOW, with or without updated legislation.
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