American Arab Forum

For Immediate Release

Aref Assaf, 973-960-2673

AAF applauds the passage of House Bill to provide needed protection for victims of hate crimes

 Paterson, NJ May 3 ,2007: The American Arab Forum, AAF,  a civil and educational organization in NJ,  applauds the passage of HR 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act (LLEHCPA) by a vote of 237-180 with support from 212 Democrats and 25 Republicans.  The bill was introduced by U.S. Reps. John Conyers (D-MI) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). AAF was one the two hundred national organizations which pressed Congress to pass the hate crime in the 110^th Congress.

Aref Assaf, president of AAF, hailed the  bill as "a great achievement which unequivocally denounces and criminalizes all acts of hate crimes  based on race, religion or gender against any and all Americans.” He added that  “with today’s historic debate and vote, our hopes are high that the Senate will soon act upon a similar measure to  make it  a law of our land. We bow our hats to Congressman Jon Conyers whose steady and stellar leadership to end the curse of hate crimes is unmatched.” End

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