Those who murdered Matthew Shepard did far more than end the life of a beautiful, promising, loving young man. Those who brutally dragged James Byrd to his death did far more than end the life of a decent, hard-working, loving father and grandfather. The young man who shot at Jews and Blacks and Asians in Chicago did far more than wound several human beings and end the lives of two of God's children. And, this weekend, Danny Lee Overstreet's murderer did not simply end the life of a compassionate, quiet, optimistic man. These perpetrators violated the very principles of American society.
Hate crimes are more than mere acts of violence.
They are more than murders, beatings, and assaults. Hate crimes are nothing less than attacks on those values that are the pillars of our republic and the guarantors of our freedom. They are a betrayal of the promise of America. They erode our national well being. Those who commit these crimes do so fully intending to tear at the too-often frayed threads of diversity that bind us together and make us strong.