The session was to plot strategies to combat hate crimes by violence-prone bigots, political extremists and troubled schoolchildren. Among topics examined behind closed doors were hate crimes in schools and on the Internet. Reno repeated the administration's long-standing desire to expand the current hate crime law to include bias based on sexual orientation, disabilities and gender. The existing hate crime statute is limited to bias based on race, religion, color and national origin. The attorney general conceded it appears unlikely Congress will go along with the proposal.
Haters are cowards.
When confronted they often back down. When Reno fielded questions, one of the federal attorneys who assisted the Texas prosecution in the dragging death of James Byrd Jr. expressed concern that hate against racial and ethnic groups is too often learned in prison, where inmates become members of angry gangs, and later are released. Reno promised to pursue the issue with the Bureau of Prisons. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you.