From: Date: Wed, 24 May 1995 13:56:49 -0400 Subject: LA-NEWS: Hate Crimes Bill LOUISIANA ELECTORATE of GAYS AND LESBIANS (LEGAL) PO Box 70344 New Orleans, LA 70172 (504) 383-8033 during legislative session (504) 525-7117 all other times Brian J.P. Hartig Statewide Dir, LEGAL Attention! Senate Bill 980 -- the Hate Crimes Bill -- passed successfully off of the Senate floor (21-15) on Wednesday, 18 May. On Tuesday, 30 May, the bill goes to the House for a vote in the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. Your calls and letters are needed. The Hate Crimes Bill allows for a judge to enhance the penalties levied upon an individual convicted of a hate-motivated crime. Thirty-five states have already adopted laws similar to SB 980. ****************************************************************************** WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP Call or write your representative if he or she is on the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. Ask him or her to vote YES on SB 980. If you know anyone who lives within any committee members' district, call them and ask them to call their representative about the Hate Crimes Bill. ****************************************************************************** To call a representative if his or her line is busy -- 504-342-6945. ****************************************************************************** House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee CHAIRMAN: Rep. Raymond "Lala" Lalonde-D PO Drawer 70 Carencro, LA 70520-0070 Leg: 800-259-8087 or 318-262-5712 Bus: 318-896-8087 Fax: 318-262-5110 VICE-CHAIRMAN: Rep. Donald Ray Kennard-R PO Box 44273 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 Bus: 504-342-9009 Res: 504-261-2030 Fax: 504-342-9010 MEMBERS: Rep. Buster Guzzardo-D PO Box 280 Independence, LA 70443 Leg: 504-342-8328 Bus: 504-878-6377 Res: 504-878-2458 Fax: 504-925-6377 Rep. Alex Heaton-D 3323 S. Carrollton Ave New Orleans, LA 70118 Bus: 504-468-6171 or 504-483-4415 Res: 504-488-4424 Fax: 504-861-3087 Rep. Audrey McCain-D 58045 Meriam St Plaquemine, LA 70764 Leg: 504-687-2225 Bus: 504-687-8616 Fax: 504-687-0754 Rep. Roy Quezaire-D PO Drawer 269 Donaldsonville, LA 70346 Leg: 800-259-2024 Bus: 504-675-6551 Res: 504-473-4937 Fax: 504-473-1498 Rep. Michael Russo-D 3630 LA Highway 78 Livonia, LA 70755 Leg: 504-342-9787 or 800-637-3859 Res: 504-637-3296 Fax: 504-637-2984 Rep. Gerald Theunissen, D-Jennings PO Box 287 Jennings, LA 70546-0287 Leg: 800-259-0376 or 318-824-0376 Res: 318-824-1153 Fax: 318-824-4784 Rep. Steve Windhorst, R-Terrytown 148-C Wall Blvd Terrytown, LA 70056 Bus: 504-394-8000 Res: 504-367-3637 Fax: 504-361-6688 ****************************************************************************** A sample letter: Dear Representative _________________, I am writing to you today to ask you to support SB 980, Sen. Johnson's Hate Crimes Bill. The Hate Crime is a divisive tool used by individuals to tear at the very fabric of society. When a Hate Crime is committed, it is done so in an effort to malign not just the individual who is assaulted but the entire community he or she represents. The Hate Crime is designed to send a clear message to this community that their presence is not wanted and that their existence is not valued or desired. Thirty-five other states have already adopted Hate Crimes measures similar to this one into law. President Bush signed the Hate Crimes Statistics Act several years ago because this problem has become a growing trend in America. People who select their victims based upon Hate -- whether those victims be Jewish, Catholic, Baptist, gay, straight, white, black -- need to be shown that their divisiveness will not be tolerated and that they will suffer for their crimes. Please support SB 980 (The Hate Crimes Bill) by Sen. Johnson. Send a message to those who would commit Hate Crimes in this state that they will not be tolerated in Louisiana any longer. Signed, ****************************************************************************** end